Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe is in the prime of his career at 26 and already writing himself into the history books at the Santiago Bernabeu by tying Cristiano Ronaldo’s opening tally of 33 goals in all competitions.
Although Real Madrid are second to Barcelona in LaLiga and haven’t been as impressive overall this season, Mbappe has been the biggest bright spot in a quietly disappointing attack, leading the team with 22 goals while ranking second in the side behind Luka Modric in big chances created.
After a rough start to the season, Mbappe has rebounded strongly since a low point against Athletic Club, showing the kind of resiliency that Cristiano, Karim Benzema, and all the other faces of Real Madrid in the past have displayed.
But as incredible as Mbappe is as an all-around forward, goal-scorer, and technician, even the French speedster has a couple of weaknesses he must iron out before becoming a perennial Ballon d’Or winner.
Real Madrid need Kylian Mbappe to be that guy on free kicks
According to a report from veteran Spanish journalist Jose Luis Sanchez on El Chiringuito, Real Madrid want to turn Kylian Mbappe into a dead-ball specialist going forward.
The issue of a free kick taker has been at Real Madrid for years ever since the declines of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Toni Kroos and David Alaba could provide some set-piece magic, but, lately, Real haven’t gotten much from corners or free kicks.
Luka Modric is the corner taker, and for as brilliant as he is at creating chances from open play, he’s not been consistent with his deliveries over the past couple of seasons.
Fede Valverde can score great goals from outside the box, but the only Real Madrid player who can semi-consistently come close to scoring from free kicks is Rodrygo Goes, and he’s more “good” than “great”.
A club like Real Madrid need someone who can regularly deliver goals from free kicks, and, in theory, that responsibility should belong to the best overall finisher and scorer on the team.
Mbappe has the best technical quality on the team and is the face of Real Madrid. Like Cristiano before him, Mbappe is the guy who should be taking the free kicks for the team.
Valverde can smash them home on occasion, but Mbappe’s finesse and accuracy are the key. He showed a glimpse of his quality from set pieces with his goal against Leganes to win the game, but that technically wasn’t from a dead ball situation.
Mbappe has shown that he can score, create chances, dribble past defenders, and, when he wants to, defend and press. The real weakness that has always existed, going back to his days with Monaco and PSG even, is that lack of killer edge from set pieces.
Since Mbappe’s box presence will be needed on corners, the focus will be on free kicks. Nothing beats practice, and if Mbappe needs to take a page out of David Beckham’s book and shoot hundreds of free kicks a day, then so be it. Because Real Madrid, after all these years, need the new face of the franchise to convert all the copious great free kick opportunities their elite dribbles give them around the penalty area.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.