Mbappe leads the scoring charts, but Yamal has the El Clasico advantage

Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe meet again on Sunday as Barcelona and Real Madrid contest their first El Clasico of the season, with the two forwards also among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on Monday evening.

The La Liga fixture is the latest chapter in a rivalry that has recently been dominated by Barcelona. Since Mbappe joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, the two sides have faced one another seven times across all competitions. Mbappe has played in six of those matches.

Barcelona have won six of the seven encounters, while Real Madrid’s only victory came in a league match on 26 October 2025, when they prevailed 2-1.

The Catalan club began this run with a 4-0 league victory on 26 October 2024. They then beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup on 12 January 2025 before claiming a 3-2 win in the Copa del Rey final on 26 April.

Barcelona followed that success with a 4-3 league victory on 11 May 2025. They won the Spanish Super Cup final 3-2 on 11 January 2026 and completed their sequence of six victories with a 2-0 league triumph on 10 May 2026.

Mbappe has the individual edge

Although Barcelona have clearly held the advantage as a team, Mbappe has produced the stronger scoring record in these meetings.

The France forward has scored six times against Barcelona during that period, including a hat-trick in May 2025. Yamal, by contrast, has scored three goals in the same fixtures.

The Barcelona winger has still made a significant contribution, creating two goals in the Copa del Rey final. His influence has also extended beyond club football, with Yamal having the better record than Mbappe in the most recent three meetings between France and Spain.

That provides another layer to Sunday’s contest between two players competing for individual recognition as well as victory in one of world football’s most prominent fixtures.

Mbappe’s six goals give him the statistical advantage in front of goal, but Yamal’s team have controlled the recent head-to-head record. Real Madrid will be seeking only their second win over Barcelona since the Frenchman’s arrival, while Barcelona will attempt to maintain their dominance in the first meeting between the rivals this season.