When Mbappé first landed last summer, the big question wasn't about his talent—that’s a given—but where Carlo Ancelotti would slot him. The early pre-season games saw him mostly on the left, a position he'd often occupied at PSG, cutting in. But with Vinicius Jr. firmly established there, Ancelotti wasn't about to disrupt that rhythm. Instead, he started Mbappé centrally, a false nine, for the first few La Liga matches. It was good, not great. He netted four goals in his first six league games, including a brace against Celta Vigo in August, but you could see him drifting wide, almost instinctively looking for that touchline.
Ancelotti, bless his pragmatic heart, saw it too. Around late September, after a slightly disjointed 2-1 win over Real Sociedad where Mbappé looked a touch isolated, Ancelotti tweaked it. Vinicius stayed wide left, Mbappé moved to a fluid central role that often saw him interchange with Rodrygo on the right, and Jude Bellingham maintained his attacking midfield spot. This is where it clicked. Mbappé isn’t a pure number nine; he’s a roaming threat. He thrives on space, the kind of space created by Vinicius drawing defenders wide and Bellingham making those late runs into the box.
The link-up play with Vinicius has been genuinely telepathic at times. Forget the pre-arrival whispers about two big egos clashing. Vinicius has thrived on the attention Mbappé pulls. Take the return leg against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final. Vinicius sprinted down the left, drawing two defenders, then laid off a perfect pass to a cutting Mbappé, who buried it first-time. That was his 9th Champions League goal of the campaign. Or the La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid in February, where Mbappé played a ridiculous no-look backheel through ball to Vinicius, who then rounded Oblak. They’ve combined for 17 goals directly this season, a truly frightening partnership for any defense.
Bellingham’s role has remained big. He’s still the engine, the guy making those late surges into the box that open up space for others. He's got 16 goals this season, mostly from midfield, which speaks volumes. What’s changed is how Mbappé uses Bellingham’s movement. He’s often finding Bellingham with quick, incisive passes when the Englishman makes his characteristic runs. The away game at Villarreal in March, a 4-0 thrashing, saw Mbappé assist two of Bellingham’s goals, both classic late runs into the penalty area. Ancelotti’s genius here isn't overthinking it; it’s letting world-class players find their rhythm. He’s given them the freedom to interpret their roles within a loose structure, rather than a rigid system.
Real talk, though: Mbappé has been unplayable in the Champions League. His 12 goals in 11 matches, including a hat-trick against Porto in the group stage and key strikes against Man City and Bayern in the knockouts, tell only part of the story. He looks like a man possessed, determined to deliver the trophy he chased for so long in Paris. He’s averaging 4.1 shots per game in the competition, a significant jump from his final season at PSG (3.2). He’s also completing 87% of his passes, showing he’s not just a finisher but a key part of the build-up. My hot take? This Madrid team, with Mbappé leading the line, is probably the most dominant side we've seen since Pep's Barcelona.
Ancelotti has adjusted, yes, but more subtly than some analysts predicted. He hasn’t reinvented the wheel. The formation is still nominally a 4-3-3, but it morphs into a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-2-4 when attacking. Camavinga and Tchouaméni provide the defensive steel in midfield, allowing Bellingham to push forward with impunity. The biggest tactical adjustment has been the instruction for the fullbacks, particularly Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy, to overlap less aggressively, providing more defensive cover against counter-attacks. This gives Vinicius and Rodrygo (or Valverde, depending on the opponent) more freedom to attack the wide areas, knowing there’s protection behind them. Mbappé, then, has the license to roam, drop deep, or surge forward, always finding himself in dangerous positions. It’s controlled chaos, and it’s lethal.
Look, Madrid bought Mbappé to win the Champions League. And he’s delivered. He's been the missing piece, the guy who can turn a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 rout, or drag them back from a deficit with a moment of individual brilliance. He’s not just adapted; he’s elevated the entire team. He’s not just a goalscorer; he’s a magnet for defenders, which opens up space for Vinicius, Bellingham, and Rodrygo to do their thing. He’s got that look in his eye.
Here's my bold prediction: Mbappé scores twice in the Champions League final, seals the trophy for Madrid, and then promptly demands a new contract despite being less than a year into his current one.
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