Kylian Mbappe keeps scoring like a pure striker, but every time he drifts wide, he reminds the world that his real magic happens on the left.

Kylian Mbappe’s transition to Real Madrid as a number nine has been a fascinating journey marked by immense goalscoring exploits and subtle tactical debates. While statistics underscore his success leading the line, a closer look at his playing style and recent matches suggests his true best position is still out wide on the left.

The Hard Tackle analyses Mbappe’s impact as a number nine, contrasts it with his effectiveness on the left flank, and explores what Real Madrid’s coaching staff could consider moving forward to maximise his unparalleled talent.

Kylian Mbappe’s role and impact as a Number Nine

Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 marked a significant shift from his career at Paris Saint-Germain, where he often operated from wide attacking positions. At Real Madrid, with Vinicius Jr. firmly established on the left wing, Mbappe stepped into the central striker role.

Though the Frenchman’s start was gradual in adapting to this position, his season ended with an astonishing tally: 44 goals and five assists in 59 appearances across all competitions. This underscores that despite the positional change, his capacity to find the net remained prolific.

Carrying that form into the 2025/26 season, Kylian Mbappe has already netted 18 goals and provided two assists in just 16 appearances, clearly on pace to surpass last season’s numbers. His goalscoring exploits underscore his adaptation to the number nine role, where the focus traditionally shifts to positioning in and around the box, finishing, and linking play.

Tactical challenges of playing Mbappe as a striker

Despite impressive stats, the question remains whether deploying Kylian Mbappe solely as a number nine plays to the full breadth of his skills. Recent matches provide some insight. Against Juventus, Liverpool, and Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid faced defensive setups that successfully neutralised Mbappe’s influence.

These teams strangled passing lanes to him, cut off the French attacker’s movement behind the defensive line, and prevented him from exploiting space. With his back often turned to the goal, Mbappe appeared less effective, lacking the dynamism and threat usually associated with him.

This scenario highlights a key tactical consideration. Unlike a traditional number nine who thrives on receiving the ball facing goal and making incisive runs within the box, Mbappe’s game thrives on space and direct running at defenders, attributes more visible when he plays wide. His inability to influence games fully in tight central spaces raises doubts about whether the number nine role is best for him.

Why Kylian Mbappe’s best position is on the left flank

Mbappe’s strengths—blistering pace, exceptional dribbling skills, and ability to cut inside from wide areas—make the left flank a natural home. Playing wide allows him to receive the ball on his feet with room to accelerate, take on defenders 1v1, and create scoring opportunities either by cutting inside or delivering crosses.

When positioned on the left, Kylian Mbappe’s game opens up: his dribbling forces defenders to make decisions, and his runs behind defensive lines become more threatening. The evidence from various analyses and matches points strongly toward this position, amplifying his impact. It’s where he can combine creativity with lethal finishing more fluidly.

What Real Madrid could do next

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s coach, is at a tactical crossroads. Should he continue to deploy Kylian Mbappe centrally, or should he return to utilising him wide on the left? Flexibility will be essential because opponents are now aware of how to circumscribe Mbappe’s influence as a number nine.

A strategic approach could involve shifting Mbappe to the left flank when facing compact defences that restrict his central movements. This mirrors how Jose Mourinho once adapted Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in a final against Barcelona by using him up front to maximise his aerial threat. Similarly, maintaining the Frenchman as a dynamic wide attacker could reinvigorate Madrid’s attack against teams that have adapted to mark him tightly in central areas.

Integrating other talents in the final third

Real Madrid’s tactical puzzle also includes integrating young talents like Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia alongside Kylian Mbappe. Endrick’s potential was evident, but a winter loan may not be the optimal choice if the Merengues want a robust attacking unit.

Instead, rotating these players could provide fresh options and keep opponents guessing. Garcia, in particular, impressed during the FIFA Club World Cup and could offer an impactful alternative off the bench, providing variation in attack when required.

Mbappe’s playing style as a left winger complements the inclusion of these players, allowing Real Madrid to employ fluid attacking formations that adapt to different opponents’ defensive setups. Adding Endrick and Garcia to the mix would promote tactical flexibility, enabling Alonso to tailor his approach more precisely.

Leveraging Mbappe’s true strengths

While Kylian Mbappe has delivered remarkable goal numbers as a number nine, Real Madrid’s wider tactical lens suggests his best position remains on the left wing. Here, his pace, dribbling, and ability to destabilise defences are on full display.

The recent challenges he faced as a central striker against tactically prepared opponents underline how defences can stifle him when he is expected to operate primarily in tight central spaces.

Real Madrid’s coaching team, led by Xabi Alonso, would do well to embed tactical flexibility, shifting Mbappe out wide when opponents neutralise his influence centrally. In doing so, they would unlock a more dynamic and unpredictable attack.

Coupled with nurturing the promising talents of Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia, Real Madrid could maintain their offensive edge while safeguarding Mbappe’s unique qualities. The Frenchman’s footballing future will flourish best as a versatile attacker who thrives on space and speed, qualities maximised outside the penalty box rather than confined within.

This nuanced operating role might well be the key to sustaining his brilliance for Real Madrid over the long term. While dropping Vinicius Junior every now and then is not really possible, Alonso could push Mbappe out wide in games where neither of them are able to hit top gear.