Kylian Mbappe hails Vinicius Jr partnership as 'even better' this season as Real Madrid forward targets title success with Brazil star

Since Mbappe joined Madrid, he and Vinicius have developed a strong, positive relationship. However, Vinicius' form has dipped somewhat and he has lost his guaranteed starting position under new coach Alonso. Despite this, both players continue to support each other and connect well in attack, aiming to push Madrid to success together. Mbappe claims the relationship is "much better this year", calling Vinicius "a great player and a good person," and emphasising their shared goal to help Madrid win titles by being at their best.

This improved chemistry is already visible on the field, with the duo scoring in the same La Liga match three times this season, already close to matching last season’s total from 26 matches. Their recent performance against Villarreal highlighted their synergy, as Vinicius scored twice and Mbappe showed strong support, even allowing the Brazilian to take a penalty.

Asked about what has changed this year, the French forward explains how he now understands his teammate better and the two have formed a great relationship over the year.

"I have a very good relationship with Vinicius. It's much better this year because we know each other much better. He's a great player and a good person. We know people are going to talk about us, but we have the same goal, which is to help Real Madrid win titles. If we want to win titles, we both have to be at our best," Mbappe said in an interview with Movistar+.

While Mbappe leads the frontline with 14 goals already this season, Vinicius also has made nine goal contributions so far.

Vinicius' reluctance to extend his contract with Madrid has fuelled growing rumours, especially as he faces more rotation under Alonso. Reports suggest that the Brazilian desires to become the club's highest-paid player, surpassing even Mbappe, which has added to the speculation. Despite this off-field turbulence and media frenzy, Mbappe has publicly dismissed any notion of conflict between them. He blamed the media for sensationalising their relationship stating: "Two famous players on the same team sell a lot of paper, they sell a lot of things."

Madrid's upcoming schedule for the 2025-26 season includes some crucial matches against top opponents such as Getafe, Juventus, Barcelona, Valencia, and Liverpool. With injuries to key defensive players like Trent-Alexander Arnold and Dani Carvajal, and the team facing a demanding run, coach Alonso’s tactical setup and ability to manage rotations will be vital in determining the club's fortunes for the rest of the season.