Kylian Mbappe is joining Real Madrid with high expectations. The Frenchman arrives in the Spanish capital as one of the world’s best players, but knowing he’s joining a team that has already succeeded without him.
While his addition is definitely a huge boost, the club comes from winning both LaLiga and UEFA Champions League. Therefore, Mbappehas to respect the way things are done at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In fact, according to Spanish outlet Marca, Mbappe will not be Real Madrid’s primary penalty taker this season. Instead, that will continue to be Vinicius Junior‘s responsibility.
Mbappe to be Real Madrid’s second-choice penalty taker behind Vinicius
The Brazilian was designated the team’s main penalty taker after Karim Benzema’s departure in the summer of 2023 and he was up to the task, scoring all three spot-kicks he took in the 2023-24 season.
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid scores his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
This decision will require respect and humility from Mbappe, who was used to taking penalties at PSG. This even created problems at his former club back in the day, with Mbappe and Neymar arguing on who should take penalties more than once.
Mbappe expected to take free kicks for Real Madrid
However, it looks like Real Madrid still have an important role in mind for the Frenchman. The report claims Mbappe will be the primary free-kick taker, even if he’s never scored from a direct free-kick for club or country so far.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Since joining Bolavip in February 2021, he has extensively covered soccer, NFL, and NBA, specializing in real-time coverage of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. Martin’s prior experience includes managing social media for the CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. At Bolavip, he is known for his meticulous coverage during critical sports seasons—covering trades, playoffs, and finals—and for keeping a close eye on soccer icons Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. His attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news have made him a valuable asset to the team.