Kylian Mbappé’s highly anticipated debut season at Real Madrid has come under intense debate following the club’s Champions League quarter-final elimination and an underwhelming domestic campaign so far.
The French forward, who arrived in Madrid amid fanfare and towering expectations, was unable to find the back of the net in either leg of the Champions League tie.
The early European exit has sparked discussions among fans and pundits alike, questioning whether his first year in Spain’s capital is falling short of expectations.
In La Liga, Real Madrid currently trail arch-rivals Barcelona by four points with the title race nearing its conclusion.
While a Copa del Rey final appearance offers a chance at silverware, many supporters are left wondering if that alone would be enough to justify the season’s ambitions—especially with a player of Mbappé’s stature leading the line.
The 25-year-old forward has delivered in flashes throughout the season, but his inconsistency in big moments has fueled criticism.
For a player touted as the future face of Real Madrid and heir to the club’s great attacking legacy, the current trajectory has raised eyebrows.
A fan poll launched this week has asked a provocative question: “Is Kylian Mbappé’s first season at Real Madrid already a failure?”
The responses have been split, highlighting the divide between those urging patience and others demanding immediate results from the marquee signing.
Supporters in favour of giving Mbappé time argue that the transition to Spanish football is not always seamless and point to his goal tally in La Liga as a positive indicator.
However, critics highlight the Champions League—the competition Real Madrid has historically prized—as the ultimate measure of success, and in that respect, Mbappé’s contribution was absent when it mattered most.
The Copa del Rey final now looms large. A win could salvage the season and shift the narrative surrounding the Frenchman’s impact.
A loss, however, would further intensify scrutiny and fuel claims that his first campaign at the Bernabéu has not lived up to its billing.
As the season enters its final stretch, all eyes remain fixed on whether Mbappé can rise to the occasion and reshape the conversation around his debut year in white.
For now, the verdict remains open—and fiercely contested.
