Kylian Mbappé continues to show exceptional form with Real Madrid. The French forward scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 3-0 victory over Valladolid, solidifying his progress in the team and firmly entering the race for the 'Pichichi'. His finishing ability, which raised doubts at the start of the season, now establishes him as one of the squad’s key figures.

With Vinícius Junior absent due to suspension, Mbappé took on the attacking leadership role, something he hadn’t done in his early months in Madrid. The striker recently admitted that at the beginning, he "thought too much" about how to adapt, which affected his performance. However, his mindset shifted after missing two penalties in December, pushing him to demand more of himself.

Since then, Mbappé has been on an impressive scoring streak. In the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, despite Real Madrid’s 5-2 loss, the Frenchman was the only player praised by Carlo Ancelotti. From that moment on, he has scored in five consecutive matches, including a goal in the Copa del Rey, a brace against UD Las Palmas, and a goal in the Champions League against Salzburg, along with his hat-trick against Valladolid.

This outstanding performance has allowed Mbappé to close in on the race for the 'Pichichi'. Although Robert Lewandowski started the season with a considerable lead, the French forward has quickly reduced the gap. While the Polish striker ended 2024 with 16 goals, Mbappé, after an explosive start to the year, is now just one goal behind him.

The Frenchman’s impact goes beyond individual numbers. His scoring run has been crucial for Real Madrid to reclaim the top spot in LaLiga EA Sports, achieving their largest lead in the standings with a four-point advantage over Atlético de Madrid. Mbappé has not only proven to be a top scorer but has also established himself as the team’s leader in decisive moments.

With 22 goals in 32 matches this season, Mbappé is on track to surpass his own records. Just three games away from matching the best scoring streak of his career, the French forward is in top form and fully focused on winning titles with Real Madrid.