Kylian Mbappé once again demonstrated his goal-scoring instinct when it mattered most. In a match with no sporting stakes for Real Madrid, the French striker played with a special motivation: to win the Golden Shoe. With Viktor Gyökeres already out of contention and Mohamed Salah yet to play, Mbappé knew he needed at least one goal to take the lead in the prestigious European award race.

His first goal came in the 38th minute, after a VAR-awarded penalty due to a handball by Pablo Marín. Although Unai Marrero initially saved the shot, the rebound was there for the Madrid striker to push into the net unchallenged. Later in the match, Vinícius provided a through ball that Mbappé expertly finished off, securing his brace and bringing his LaLiga tally to 30 goals, which gives him 60 points in the Golden Shoe race, surpassing Gyökeres’ 58.5 points and putting pressure on Salah to score at least three goals in his final game.

Farewells That Mark the End of an Era

However, the spotlight was not solely on Mbappé. The Santiago Bernabéu experienced an evening full of emotion, tears, and tributes. The farewell to two eternal Madrid legends — the most decorated coach, Carlo Ancelotti, and the player with the most titles in the club’s history, Luka Modric — filled the stands with deep feeling as their names were chanted throughout the match.

It was the end of a golden era. With more nostalgia than football, Madrid closed a trophyless league but paid tribute to its recent history. Every corner kick was a ritual of thanks to Modric. Every gesture from Ancelotti was a postcard of farewell. The Croatian gifted one last touch of magic with a nutmeg that electrified the crowd, and his substitution in the 89th minute stopped the game: a guard of honor by the players, a thunderous ovation, and a long embrace with Toni Kroos sealed a legendary goodbye. A banner read, “Thank you Luka, your glory is eternal,” perfectly capturing the feeling of the Madrid faithful towards one of their legends who earned respect even from rivals due to his way of interpreting football.

Match Context

On the pitch, Real Madrid dominated a lackluster Real Sociedad that lacked the intensity and edge it had shown at other points in the season. Mbappé, motivated by his personal goal, was the most focused from the start. At seven minutes, he already forced Marrero into a great save and never stopped hunting for the goal.

It was also a day of quieter farewells, like that of Lucas Vázquez, who played his last home game in white, loyal to his low-profile image. Brahim raised concerns with another muscular injury that worries ahead of the Club World Cup, but he gave way to the return of Vinícius, who energized the final stretch of the match.

Mbappé, the Leader of the Future

The Frenchman, who already secured the Pichichi (top scorer award), has closed his first campaign in Spain with 42 goals in all competitions, confirming his immediate impact and role as leader of the new Madrid project. His performance has steadily improved, and his hunger for individual glory remains very much alive.

While Real Madrid says goodbye to a trophyless season, the future is already on the horizon with Xabi Alonso at the helm and Mbappé as the flagbearer. The emotion of the present coexists with hope for what’s to come in a night that will be remembered as the end of a glorious era.