Despite the fact that French forward Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick and the team's fourth goal in the Spanish league match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, José Mourinho believes that goals alone are not enough for the player.
The 2026/27 season has barely begun, and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé is already leading the La Liga scoring charts ahead of Malaga's visit on Sunday. The French striker scored a hat-trick when Mourinho's team secured a convincing victory over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, earning their second win in the championship from two matches played this season.
Mbappé, who won the league's top scorer title twice in previous seasons at the club, is ready for new achievements, awaiting the match against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, despite his magnificent trick, Mourinho stated that goals are not a sufficient indicator for the forward, calling him 'incredible.'
Mourinho told reporters: 'I prefer 40 (goals) with titles, rather than 60 without them.' He continued: 'I prefer 40 with a greater contribution to the team's work, than 60 when the player only plays for himself, as is often the case with forwards.'
This comment was not criticism of Mbappé in the current season, but rather encouragement for the Frenchman to maintain the high level of diligence he demonstrates. 'I am very pleased with him,' Mourinho added. 'From a technical point of view, there is obviously nothing to say, but in terms of helping the group grow, taking responsibility, working... '
He also noted that the player's early arrival during the pre-season period can have a positive impact: 'He arrived two days earlier, and two days earlier in this pre-season period can mean something positive.'
Getting more from Mbappé, beyond a large number of guaranteed goals, could be the key to unlocking the potential of a team that possesses high quality but has failed to win a major trophy in the last two seasons.
Mourinho expressed joy that Mbappé created history at the World Cup, noting that among the 25 world champions, only one is eternal in football—the player who scores the most goals in the tournament. The 27-year-old athlete won the Golden Boot at the World Cup by scoring 10 goals, totaling 22 goals in the tournament of his career, surpassing Lionel Messi, and breaking Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals.
'I see that he truly yearns to make history with Real Madrid,' Mourinho continued.
Since Mbappé's transfer to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, he has watched his former team win the Champions League twice, while Real's rivals, Barcelona, won both La Liga titles during this period. Last season, Madrid did not win any trophies, and Mbappé's only trophy with the club is the UEFA Super Cup 2024 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, despite him scoring 86 goals in just 103 matches in the first two seasons with the club.
The start of the season was marked by a decisive statement from Mbappé on 'Real Madrid TV': 'This year we must win, everyone wants it, and we will do it.'
In Mourinho's opinion, the path to this goal lies through teamwork. 'I always say that with such players, you need to teach them to play as a team and teach them very little from an individual perspective,' added the veteran Portuguese coach.
Mourinho, aged 63, possesses the aura and strength necessary to unite the club's biggest stars and direct their efforts in one direction, despite his own difficulties in recent years outside of the biggest European clubs. During the chaotic 2025/26 campaign in Madrid, it didn't always seem like it was happening, as Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa came and went, and Mbappé's goals alone were not enough to keep the team afloat.
On Sunday, Malaga will provide another opportunity for Mbappé to increase his constantly growing numbers, but Mourinho will be looking for something more than another hat-trick.