Kylian Mbappe did not have the easiest start to life at Real Madrid, but he has overcome those difficulties now, and as such, he has started to thrive. Finding the back of the net proved difficult

Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid last summer has complicated the club’s wage structure, and now it appears that Jude Bellingham wants to be the highest-paid player at Madrid, ahead of both the Frenchman and Vinicius.

In a crucial week in Real Madrid’s season, Kylian Mbappe stepped up to the plate. The 26-year-old scored on his derby debut against Atletico Madrid — he had missed this season’s first meeting between the city rivals in September with a thigh injury — and played a key role as Carlo Ancelotti’s team pushed for a winner at the Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe is thriving at Real Madrid, finding the back of the net with ease in both La Liga and the Champions League, leading the charge for the Blancos with his goal-scoring prowess.

Tuesday night brought together two of the biggest superstars in world football as Erling Haaland’s Manchester City went head-to-head with Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid. Haaland found the net twice - outscoring Mbappe by one - but it was Madrid who emerged victorious with a thrilling 3-2 win in the first leg of the Champions League playoff round.