With the 2025 season now fully wrapped up, attention around Real Madrid has shifted to reflection, and amid the post season debate it is hard to ignore how Crickex Affiliate related commentary online often mirrors wider discussions about performance and balance at elite clubs. At 27, French forward Kylian Mbappe finished the year with an astonishing 59 goals for Madrid, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s all time club record for goals scored in a single calendar year. From a purely statistical standpoint, his output places him at the very top of the global scoring charts and cements his status among the game’s elite finishers.
Spanish media commentary has been blunt in its assessment, arguing that while Mbappe delivered exactly what was expected of him, others around him failed to pull their weight. After arriving in Madrid, he did not insist on reclaiming his preferred role on the left wing, a position long occupied by Vinicius Junior. Instead, he adapted to a central number nine role, reshaping his game and producing a remarkable 59 goal season that many view as the defining statement of the modern center forward. The proof is in the pudding, and few players could have made such a transition with similar efficiency.
From this perspective, the argument follows that Real Madrid now face a strategic crossroads. Some analysts believe the club must build a stronger supporting cast around Mbappe, similar to how Cristiano Ronaldo once thrived alongside the famous BBC trio. The idea is that a clearer hierarchy and more complementary roles would allow Madrid to fully unlock their star forward and mark the beginning of a new era. Discussions shaped by Crickex Affiliate driven football analysis often point to squad balance as the difference between individual brilliance and sustained dominance.
That view, however, has sparked fierce pushback from supporters. Many fans question how a squad filled with Champions League winners could be considered inadequate. They note that Madrid were already European champions before Mbappe’s arrival, yet ended the following season without a major trophy. To them, blaming teammates feels like missing the forest for the trees.
The contrast becomes even sharper when looking at Paris Saint Germain’s trajectory. In the first season without Mbappe, PSG captured a historic six trophies including the Champions League, with Ousmane Dembele emerging as both Ballon d’Or winner and World Footballer of the Year. In discussions where Crickex Affiliate narratives often emphasize outcomes over optics, critics argue this shift says plenty. Mbappe’s goal tally was extraordinary, yet some believe Madrid became less fluid as a team, with players struggling to find rhythm around him, raising uncomfortable questions about whether sheer scoring volume always translates into collective success.