Kylian Mbappe: From jail threat to immortality in 12 months?

Analysis

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Just weeks after being threatened with prison in Paraguay, Kylian Mbappe is preparing for a new Real Madrid season with the aim of immortalising himself at the biggest club in the game by doing something even Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t during his historic Bernabeu stint.

Even after what was a disappointing campaign for Los Blancos as a club last term, Mbappe distinguished himself on a personal level, ignoring the chaos around him to win the Pichichi Award – a prize given to the leading scorer in La Liga.

It was the 27-year-old’s second consecutive Pichichi since joining Real Madrid as a free agent from PSG.

He is now chasing a third successive such crown. It’s a feat only two Real Madrid players have managed before, and notably one that eluded Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappe’s idol, during his record-breaking stint at the Bernabeu.

Rather than the Portuguese, Mbappe is seeking to match legendary striker Hugo Sanchez, who won a hat-trick of awards in succession in the 1980s, and Alfredo Di Stefano, who won four straight in the 1950s.

It would also take him a step closer to Lionel Messi, who won five successive awards from 2017 until he left Barcelona in 2021. The Argentine remains the ultimate benchmark.

Mental strength amid World Cup prison drama

Mbappe approaches this campaign in excellent form after an outstanding World Cup with France, where he claimed the top scorer prize with 10 strikes as Les Bleus finished fourth.

It was a campaign that was notably marked by off-field controversy, notably via a high-profile attack from Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla after France edged Paraguay 1-0 in a bad-tempered match.

After the game, Amarilla described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to ⁠pass himself off as French” and as a “brute who had not learned to write”.

Mbappe branded her “despicable”, and an investigation into her comments was opened by Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, prompting Amarilla to respond with a thinly veiled threat of a legal response from Paraguay, including potential prison time.

“Here, they put Ronaldinho in prison for a minor offence. Mbappe shouldn't underestimate me. I can hire a lawyer and I can file a complaint against him for gender-based violence and political violence against women. This is serious,” she warned.

Throughout this drama, Mbappe kept his head and kept scoring for France, showing the type of mental toughness that differentiates those who can thrive at a club like Real Madrid with those who are simply very good.

Fresh challenge under Mourinho

With two Pichichi prizes under his belt, Mbappe is chasing a third under new manager Jose Mourinho, presenting another challenge as he seeks to establish himself among Real Madrid’s greats.

The Portuguese, though, is confident that he can blend the French superstar with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior to form a winning team.

“They are incredible players and incredible players want to play with incredible players,” Mourinho said.

“I have a lot of confidence that we’ll do well when all three play together. They are high-quality players and I don’t think they’re incompatible at all. We’re going to have a great season with them.”

And the striker certainly has Mourinho’s faith when it comes to wearing the No.9 shirt at the Bernabeu.

“Mbappe is incredible,” Mourinho told El Chiringuito. “He sometimes makes me laugh in training, because he is too good. He is on a stratospheric level.”

Having cut his holidays short to return to Real Madrid training early, Mbappe is treating the challenge of the season ahead as seriously as ever. That’s a clear warning for his Pichichi rivals and a suggestion that the immortality that the Parisian is chasing is within touching distance.