Kylian Mbappe beats Lamine Yamal to La Liga Player of the Month award

Kylian Mbappe has been named La Liga’s Player of the Month for October, beating Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to the award after a prolific spell for Real Madrid.

The France striker scored four goals in three league appearances during the month, including two against Sevilla and another two against Barcelona in El Clasico.

Real Madrid won that match 2-1 at Spotify Camp Nou, with Mbappe’s goals helping him take his La Liga total to 11 by the end of October. He also had two assists, giving him 13 goal contributions in the competition at that stage of the season.

Mbappe’s award is his first individual success against Yamal since both players finished behind Harry Kane in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting. Kane won the prize, with Mbappe second and Yamal third.

The award was contested by five players. Alongside Mbappe and Yamal, the shortlist included Real Sociedad’s Goncalo Guedes, Atletico de Madrid’s Alejandro Grimaldo and Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro.

Yamal falls short despite strong season

Yamal produced three direct contributions in three La Liga matches during October, scoring once and providing two assists.

The Barcelona winger nevertheless remained ahead of Mbappe for total goal contributions across the season at the end of the month. He had recorded 14, consisting of eight goals and six assists.

However, Mbappe’s advantage in October came in front of goal. His four goals compared with Yamal’s one gave the Real Madrid forward the edge in the award race.

Yamal had earlier gained some recognition after winning the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. His latest defeat by Mbappe adds another chapter to the rivalry between the two players, which has attracted attention since the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Mbappe’s award also provides a response after his disappointment at missing out on the Ballon d’Or. His scoring form helped convert Real Madrid’s strong results during October into individual recognition at domestic level.

The two clubs continue to compete for top spot in La Liga, with the individual contest between their leading attacking players developing alongside the broader battle between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid are scheduled to face Celta Vigo in La Liga on 21 November 2026, while Barcelona will play Villarreal in the competition on 22 November 2026.