Mbappe vs Yamal

Kylian Mbappé vs Lamine Yamal: A Tale of Two Generations

1. Setting the Scene

Mbappé, the French forward born in 1998, is firmly established as a global superstar. 

Yamal, the Spanish prodigy born in 2006, is seen as part of the next wave. 

Because of their overlapping club contexts (Spain’s La Liga) and rising media narratives, a comparison between them naturally emerges.

2. Recent Season Stats & Comparison

Here are some of the most telling numbers:

For the 2024-25 season in La Liga, Mbappé scored 31 goals in 34 matches, translating to ~0.91 goals per game. 

In the same season, Yamal scored 9 goals (35 matches) and provided 13 assists, yielding a combined 22 goal contributions. 

On Yamal: as of the start of 2025-26 he had 6 combined goals+assists in 5 appearances (La Liga) → showing strong early form. 

On head-to-head context: Yamal has had the upper hand in recent Spain vs France or club vs club matchups involving Mbappé’s teams — for example, Spain beating France in a 5-4 thriller where Yamal scored twice. 

3. What the Numbers Tell Us

Mbappé remains in a league of his own when it comes to pure goal-scoring at the elite level. His ~0.9 goals per game in 2024-25 is exceptional.

Yamal, by contrast, is less about raw goals for now and more about creativity and involvement: his assists and contributions are strong for his age/experience.

The fact that Yamal is outperforming expectations for a teenager means his ceiling appears very high; Mbappé’s consistency and finishing mark him out as the benchmark for this type of attacking player.

The context of opposition, experience and role differ: Mbappé as a main striker/finisher, Yamal often playing as a winger/creative forward and still developing.

4. The Intangibles & “Who’s Better” Question

Experience counts: Mbappé has been at the top level for years, with Champions League, World Cup, etc experience. Yamal is still at the beginning of his senior journey.

Role and expectation differ: Mbappé is expected to score; Yamal is allowed more freedom and learning room.

Momentum: Yamal is the “rising star” story, which brings excitement; Mbappé is already established — comparisons often frame Yamal as the “future” and Mbappé as the “now”.

Match-winning mentality: In big matches (e.g., Spain vs France), Yamal is already showing up. Mbappé has long been counted on to do so.

5. Verdict & What to Watch

If you ask “who’s better?”, the answer depends on timeframe:

For today and proven output: Mbappé wins. The goal-scoring numbers speak for themselves.

For long-term potential: Yamal is incredibly exciting — if he stays healthy, grows his game, he could rival the best.

What to watch going forward:

Will Yamal raise his goals per game ratio closer to the elite level?

Will Mbappé maintain or raise his standards (and how will injuries/age affect him)?

Their performances in head-to-head / big matches: when Yamal vs Mbappé’s national teams or club competitions happen.

The evolution of roles: will Yamal become a main finisher or continue in a creative-wide role? Will Mbappé adapt his game as he ages?

6. Final Thoughts

What we are witnessing is both a snapshot and a hand-over: Mbappé representing the current pinnacle of attacking excellence, Yamal embodying the next chapter. Their careers will likely intersect and provide plenty of drama, narratives and statistical fun for fans like us.

If you like, I can pull up detailed recent match-by-match statistics for both (last 5 matches, goals/shots/assists) and we can dig deeper. Do you want that?