Carlo Ancelotti's lineup, valued at over a billion dollars, is set to tackle an unprecedented challenge in Real Madrid's history—competing for seven titles. With the much-anticipated arrival of Kylian Mbappé as the crown jewel of the reigning European and LaLiga champions, this marks the second coming of the "Galácticos" era.

Lessons have been learned from the original Galácticos, featuring stars like Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham, and Zinedine Zidane, alongside Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, and Raúl. Despite being stacked with some of the best players in the world, that team lacked unity, and the weight of egos in the locker room kept them from achieving unforgettable success on the field.

This new version, 2.0, is younger and hungrier for success, with Mbappé expected to dominate the world in a Real Madrid jersey, and the Brazilian national team's 18-year-old striker, Endrick, joining forces with Vinícius, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Luka Modric, and Thibaut Courtois. It’s a new era without Toni Kroos pulling the strings and without Nacho Fernández to put out defensive fires, not to mention the ever-reliable Joselu Mato as the go-to goal scorer off the bench.

A New Challenge for "Carletto"

Ancelotti, more accustomed to winning Champions Leagues than LaLiga titles, has his sights set on domestic success. Real Madrid hasn't won back-to-back league titles since 2008. Alongside defending their European crown in the new "Champions" format, they’ll also be chasing the UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Copa del Rey, and Club World Cup—making this season a rollercoaster of emotions and matches.

Managing his squad of 22 players will be key for "Carletto," who’s closed the transfer window despite the need for a central defender. With Nacho gone, Jesús Vallejo is back, despite a forgettable last season. Vallejo, who was on the verge of leaving, now has a chance to step up after Leny Yoro chose Manchester United, with Antonio Rüdiger and a fully recovered Éder Militao already in the mix. David Alaba will still miss the first two months of the new season due to his knee injury.

A Billion-Dollar Starting Eleven

With a packed schedule, injuries due to the workload will be a major threat. Rotations will be more crucial than ever, and managing the benching of star players will be a delicate task. While there will be playing time for everyone, a defined starting eleven will emerge for the big games.

This starting lineup—Courtois ($30M), Dani Carvajal ($12M), Militao ($60M), Rüdiger ($25M), Mendy ($22M), Tchouameni or Camavinga (both $100M), Fede Valverde ($120M), Jude Bellingham ($180M), Vinícius ($180M), Rodrygo ($110M), and Mbappé ($180M)—is valued at a staggering $1.11 billion, according to Transfermarkt.

Adding the second unit led by the ageless Modric, who’s about to turn 39 and is on the verge of becoming the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history, plus Andriy Lunin, Brahim, Arda Güler, Endrick, Alaba, Fran García, or Dani Ceballos, the total value of the 22-man squad rises to €1.352 billion.

Winning LaLiga again is almost an obligation for Ancelotti, who finally won the one major league that had eluded him in his second stint with Madrid. He clinched two of the last three with style and a huge gap over the rivals.

Last season’s LaLiga was particularly significant. Without Karim Benzema, their top scorer in recent times, Ancelotti switched up the system to maximize Jude Bellingham’s offensive prowess, while Vinícius continued to grow, making him one of the favorites for the Ballon d’Or. These two stars, who share a strong friendship and understanding on the pitch, will be joined by Mbappé—world-class talents all under one roof, managed by the best locker room leader, Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian coach’s biggest concern is balance, which was key to last season’s success in winning the 36th LaLiga title and the 15th European Cup. The team was committed, united in effort, with defense starting from high pressing.

Ancelotti now faces the task of finding a new leader without Kroos, adjusting positions in a Real Madrid that’s gone from lacking forwards to having a surplus. These are challenges for Ancelotti, who doesn’t want to end his career just yet, with seven chances to surpass the legendary Miguel Muñoz as the most decorated coach in Real Madrid’s history.

The new Santiago Bernabéu will struggle to accommodate the excitement surrounding this Real Madrid team. Pre-season results, marked by the absence of up to seven potential starters, won’t matter. The Euros delayed the return of Carvajal, Mbappé, Bellingham, Mendy, Camavinga, and Tchouaméni, while the Copa América kept Fede Valverde out longer than expected.

With a heavy reliance on academy players, the team suffered defeats to Milan and in the first Clásico against Barcelona. But a win against Chelsea set the stage for the first of seven titles up for grabs—the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta. It’s a chance to start the new season with the same winning feeling that capped off the last one.