Kylian Mbappe will have no choice but to play as a central striker, both at Real Madrid and for the French national team. This single pathway is fraught with challenges for the star forward of Les Bleus.
The chance for Mbappe to return to his preferred left wing position with the French national team is slim. Bradley Barcola, who has had a stellar start to the Ligue 1 season with 4 goals in 3 matches, has made a strong case for the left wing role. Barcola mirrors the young Mbappe with his explosive pace and exceptional dribbling.
Coach Didier Deschamps is unlikely to miss the opportunity to utilize Barcola’s current form. The plan for the upcoming match against Italy is clear: Barcola will stick to the left wing, Michael Olise will cover the right, and Mbappe will play as the central striker. Theoretically, this attacking trio could be very promising for France. Mbappe, whether he likes it or not, will have to inherit the role left by Olivier Giroud.
“This is a position Mbappe has played at PSG, is playing at Real Madrid, and occasionally plays for the French national team. Of course, things are not set in stone. There are different types of strikers, as we see with Marco Asensio at PSG. Mbappe is not a traditional number 9. He has different qualities that can be leveraged, such as his ability to connect with players around him,” Deschamps said about Mbappe’s role as the central forward for Les Bleus.
At EURO 2024, Mbappe played as a striker in 3 of the 5 matches. However, his overall performance in Germany was relatively underwhelming (1 goal, 2 assists). In the previous season with PSG, Mbappe played 26 matches as a central striker and scored 26 goals, which was a better performance compared to his 18 goals in 20 matches as a left winger during the 2023/24 season.
Nonetheless, statistics can be deceptive. Mbappe has never been entirely comfortable playing as a number 9. His playing style, characterized by speed and dribbling, relies on space, which is often restricted when playing centrally. As the main striker, Mbappe frequently finds himself with his back to goal, a situation he does not favor. Consequently, he often drops deeper to get involved in play or moves to his preferred left wing position to utilize his speed. At Real Madrid this season, Mbappe has often encroached into Vinicius’s territory.
Scoring the opening goal against Real Betis in La Liga was a much-needed relief for Mbappe. The goal was scored in a typical striker’s fashion, which both Carlo Ancelotti and Didier Deschamps had been anticipating. Mbappe made a perfect run in the box, breaking the offside trap to receive a cross from Federico Valverde, finishing with a precise shot.
However, Mbappe needed 22 attempts in La Liga to score his first goal. His ability to capitalize on opportunities remains a concern. The goal against Betis was a significant boost and showed that Mbappe can perform well as a central striker at Real Madrid. Yet, it remains uncertain whether he can consistently demonstrate the goal-scoring instincts required of a top striker.
In the French national team, Mbappe no longer enjoys the freedom he had when playing on the left wing with Giroud as a superb target man. Now, he must shoulder the role of the main striker, linking up with teammates and maintaining a high goal-scoring rate. Mbappe will need to refine his skill set and even adjust his footballing mindset. There is no turning back for Mbappe. The role of a number 9 could elevate him to new heights, given his intelligence and the trust placed in him by both Deschamps and Ancelotti.
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