New season, same old dominance: Mbappe's impressive goal stats continue to grow

Kylian Mbappe took some time to get into his stride in La Liga last season. However, once he shed his inhibitions, he began to score at a prolific rate and became unstoppable. The league's top scorer and Golden Boot winner, he had already netted nine goals in his last five league games before adding another strike against Osasuna—this one, crucially, to secure all three points. This latest stat reveals a clear conclusion: he is staking his claim for the scoring crown from multiple angles.

Since his debut in the white shirt, he has consistently topped various goal-scoring charts. Some of his statistics are common knowledge: he is the top scorer with 32 goals, has scored in the most different matches (22), leads the way with the most hat-tricks (2), and, alongside Robert Lewandowski, boasts the most braces (6). But there is more.

The Frenchman has also specialised in doing what was seen against Osasuna: breaking the deadlock. With Sunday's goal, he has now done so 12 times, two more than Lewandowski, Budimir, and Julian Alvarez. And four of these have come in his last five league outings.

Just as he has been decisive in breaking the deadlock, he has also been in sealing victories, with six match-winners for Real Madrid. Tied with Ayoze and Lewandowski in this regard, no one has surpassed him in this period.

His clinical penalty against Sergio Herrera also saw him draw level with Budimir as the player with the most penalty goals (8) since his debut in the league. And for those who consider a penalty a less meritorious achievement, Mbappe also leads the way in goals scored from open play, level with Lewandowski (24).

After Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic spell in La Liga, Benzema took over the goalscoring mantle for Real Madrid. Now, the former PSG star appears poised to define an era at the Santiago Bernabeu and become one of the competition's leading lights.