Kylian Mbappé has silenced his critics this season with incredible form for club and country that undoubtedly makes him the best player in the world. The French forward's debut season with Real Madrid came with a ton of scrutiny due to the circumstances of his Paris Saint-Germain exit.
The 26-year-old joined a Madrid side in a difficult period amid the realisation that it was the end of Carlo Ancelotti's era. The Italian coach departed at the end of the campaign and Xabi Alonso replaced him, which only benefitted Mbappé.
Alonso is getting the best out of Mbappé and helping him thrive in a Los Blancos side who sit top of La Liga, ahead of Barcelona by two points after nine games. They turn their attention to the Champions League this week with Juventus visiting the Santiago Bernabéu and needing to keep the man of the moment quiet somehow.
Mbappé is on top of the world and stats back it up
Mbappé has always been reliable in front of goal and his numbers back in France with PSG were always staggering. But Spanish football is arguably a different ball game when coming up against giants such as Barca and the pragmatic machine of Atletico Madrid.
Finding the back of the net has come easily to Les Bleus' captain over the past month. In fact, he has scored in every single game since September including for his nation.
Mbappé has bagged seven goals in a row in La Liga, including a brace in a 4-1 win over Levante. He also netted in the disappointing 5-2 loss to Atleti.
Juve will be fearing the worst because he is also wreaking havoc in the Champions League. He hit twice in a 2-1 win over Marseille before a magical hat-trick helped Madrid to a 5-0 thrashing of Kairat Almaty.
While away with France, he's been faultless too, managing goals in a 2-0 win over Ukraine, 2-2 draw with Iceland and a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan. It's the kind of form that is Ballon d'Or worthy if he can keep it up and fire Alonso's Merengues to major success by the end of the season.
Alonso points out Mbappé's been more than just prolific
It isn't just his goalscoring prowess that has Alonso waxing lyrical about his French striker. His Spanish coach pointed out that he is influencing the entire team ahead of Juve's visit to the Bernabéu (via Reuters):
"It's not just the goals. His influence is almost as important in terms of his teammates following him with and without the ball. He's helping us. He's scored goals everywhere. The influence, as well as the goals, is what the team needs."
Mbappé was harshly questioned last season amid Madrid struggling in La Liga and in Europe. His debut campaign still ended with a fantastic tally of 44 goals in 59 games and he's already hit 15 in 11 this term.