Who will stop this Real?'

For years, there have been whispers of Kylian Mbappe's potential move to Real Madrid. Putting an end to all speculations, Mbappe's transfer to Real Madrid is no longer just hearsay; it's official. Real Madrid made the announcement in an official statement on Monday (June 3), confirming that the French sensation will be donning their jersey for the next five seasons.

Mbappe, aged 25, is joining Real Madrid during a golden era for the club, with a continuous stream of trophy victories. Following victories in the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga, Real Madrid has now triumphed in the Champions League, Europe's most prestigious tournament. Throughout the recently concluded season, the team, comprising stars like Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Camavinga, Modric, and Kroos, convincingly defeated major European clubs. The news of Mbappe's arrival came just before the conclusion of the 15th Champions League title celebrations, further delighting Real fans.

When it comes to individual performance, Mbappe now stands as the premier footballer in the world. In the 2023-24 season alone, he netted an impressive 44 goals at the club level, while also providing 10 assists. In comparison, Real's dynamic duo of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham combined for a total of 47 goals (24 from Vinicius and 23 from Bellingham). These statistics underscore Mbappe's exceptional form and prowess on the field.

Mbappe's goal-scoring prowess has been consistently impressive over the past few years. In the 2022-23 season, he notched up 41 goals and 10 assists in 43 matches for PSG. The previous season, in 2021-22, his combined goal and assist tally was an astounding 55 (39 goals and 26 assists). In 2020-21, he netted 42 goals and provided 11 assists, while in 2019-20, he scored 30 goals and contributed 18 assists. Even earlier, in the 2018-19 season, Mbappe demonstrated his exceptional skill with 39 goals and 17 assists.

Mbappe's impact extends beyond his club performances to his contributions while representing his country. He played a significant role in securing France's victory in the 2018 World Cup, earning recognition as the tournament's Best Emerging Player at just 19 years old. In 2022, he led France to the brink of World Cup victory in Qatar. Despite his remarkable hat-trick in the final, they narrowly lost to Messi's Argentina. Nonetheless, Mbappe's exceptional performance earned him the 'Golden Boot' for scoring 8 goals throughout the tournament. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in France's triumph in the UEFA Nations League.

Mbappe's performances for the national team distinguish him from today's other stars. Jude Bellingham has yet to win any titles with his country, and Vinicius Jr. has been largely ineffective for Brazil, scoring just 3 goals in 28 appearances while falling short in the Copa America and World Cup. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland's Norway has faced significant struggles, failing to qualify for both the Qatar World Cup and the upcoming Euros. In contrast, Mbappe has consistently excelled for both his club and country. Signing him would significantly boost Real Madrid's strength.

There are very few teams that can challenge Real Madrid—Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Currently, these teams are on the back foot. Take Barcelona, for instance. Since Messi's departure, the club has struggled, failing in both La Liga and the Champions League in the recently concluded season. Financial crises have prevented them from signing any big stars, and they even fired coach Xavi Hernandez at the end of the season. Amidst this ongoing turmoil, the Catalans are in no position to challenge their arch-rivals, Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich is also in a fragile situation, similar to Barcelona. The German giants went a year without winning a title and ended the season by firing coach Thomas Tuchel. Former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany has been appointed as the new coach. However, the 38-year-old lacks a proven track record as a coach. Under his leadership, Burnley was relegated from the Premier League this season. Challenging Real Madrid in the Champions League under his guidance seems impossible for Bayern.

English giants Liverpool are also going through a transitional period. Jurgen Klopp is leaving after nine years with the club, and their plans for the new season remain uncertain. Manchester City stands out as the main team capable of challenging Real Madrid. Under Pep Guardiola, City have enjoyed several successful seasons, including defeating Real in the Champions League in the 2022-23 season and subsequently winning the title. However, in the 2023-24 season, City were defeated by Real and exited the Champions League. Despite this setback, City remains the only team in Europe that can somewhat challenge Real.

Real Madrid has established dominance over Europe's premier tournament, the Champions League, making it their own. Their record of 15 titles far surpasses any other club, with AC Milan in second place with 7 trophies. Both Bayern Munich and Liverpool have 6 titles apiece, while Barcelona has won the competition only 5 times. With the addition of Mbappe, Real Madrid is poised to become an even more formidable force. Two of the club's legendary figures are already anticipating a 16th Champions League triumph. Iconic goalkeeper Iker Casillas welcomed Mbappe, declaring in 'X', "With you, the journey to sixteen begins." Real's Brazilian legend Marcelo echoed this sentiment, affirming, "16 is coming."

Many legendary footballers have had a childhood dream of playing for the prestigious Real Madrid, and Kylian Mbappe is no exception. This long-cherished dream of the Ronaldo fan is about to come true. Attracting top talent has always been one of Real's key goals. Los Blancos have dominated club football by signing icons like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl González, and Karim Benzema. Now, we have to wait at least one season to see how Real Madrid performs with stars like Mbappe, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga. Since the announcement of Mbappe joining the mighty Real Madrid, one question has been on the minds of football fans and pundits alike: 'Who will stop this Real?'