Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are two of the brightest soccer stars in the world, and now that the Frenchman has arrived at Real Madrid, the rivalry between them has only grown stronger. Following FC Barcelona’s win in the 2025 Copa del Rey final, Yamal has extended his dominant record over Mbappe.
Mbappe had a similar meteoric rise early in his career at Monaco. With a World Cup medal already in his trophy cabinet, the striker is widely regarded as a generational talent at just 26 years old. However, at only 17, Yamal has managed to consistently outperform the experienced forward when they’ve shared the pitch.
Yamal and Mbappe have now faced each other six times, with the Spanish youngster holding a 5-1 record over the French star. The six matchups took place over just 13 months, and Yamal has consistently come out on top every time they met.
Their first meeting came on May 10, 2024, during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain — when Mbappe was still with PSG. Barcelona won the first leg 3-2, but PSG pulled off a comeback with a 4-1 victory in the second leg, where Mbappe scored twice.
The third encounter came in the semifinals of UEFA Euro 2024, where Spain defeated France. The three most recent meetings have all taken place during the current season, with Yamal’s Barcelona consistently dominating Mbappe’s Real Madrid. In these six showdowns, Yamal has directly contributed with three goals and three assists, while Mbappe has recorded four goals and one assist.
There is nearly a 10-year age gap between Yamal and Mbappe, meaning they belong to different generations in soccer terms. Yet the young Spaniard’s dominance whenever they meet highlights the extraordinary impact he is already having at such a young age.
Yamal confident in Barcelona’s 2024–25 season
Barcelona had struggled with financial issues and inconsistent performances in recent years, and expectations were modest entering the 2024–25 season. However, in coach Hansi Flick’s first year in charge, the team is competing on all fronts, with the possibility of winning up to four trophies.
After lifting the Copa del Rey — his third major trophy with Barcelona — Yamal reflected on the team’s incredible campaign. “Even if we concede one goal, no problem. Even if we concede two goals, it’s still no problem. This year, they simply can’t beat us. We’ve proven that. I’m really happy. Visca Barca!” Yamal said in a post-match interview.