How Michael Jordan is helping Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid thrive

Kylian Mbappé has started this season like a house on fire. In LaLiga, he’s been key to Real Madrid’s perfect start, scoring four goals in four games. In the Champions League, he opened with a two-goal debut from the penalty spot and a solid, if quieter, overall performance.

The 26-year-old forward is Madrid’s undisputed leader, proving himself not only in attack but also with a clear improvement on the defensive end.

Mbappé breaking old habits

Mbappé’s mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, recently told L’Equipe that Kylian “hasn’t defended since he was 4 years old.”

This season, however, the French superstar is proving otherwise, engaging more frequently with opposing defenses. Pressuring opponents and recovering the ball in the attacking half are central tenets of Xabi Alonso’s philosophy, and Mbappé appears fully committed to following them.

A moment captured by broadcasters during Real Madrid’s win over Marseille illustrates the shift perfectly. At a goal kick, Mbappé mirrored Ousmane Dembélé’s iconic Champions League press, sprinting like an NFL linebacker, though instead of a quarterback, his target was opposition goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.

Former Barcelona coach aids Madrid with Jordan comparison

The Spanish rapper Tote King coined the verb “Micheljordear,” (“to Michael Jordan”) and it perfectly describes what Luis Enrique asked of Mbappé in Paris, a mentality now visible in Madrid. In that legendary conversation, the former Barcelona coach compared Mbappé to Michael Jordan, reminding him that the NBA icon always led both offensively and defensively, as his six league MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year award, and multiple All-Defensive Team selections prove.

“Michael Jordan grabbed his teammates by the balls and defended like hell. When you can’t help us with goals, you help us defensively. If only you press, that’s great, but if you set an example, we become a machine. Offensively, you’re God. But on a day you don’t score, you have to be the best defender in history. That’s a leader. That’s Jordan,” Luis Enrique told him.

The stats that back up Mbappé transformation

Data confirms Mbappé’s defensive growth under Xabi Alonso. The Frenchman now records more ball recoveries (2.53), more interceptions (0.56), more recoveries in the attacking half (2.25), more recoveries in the final third (0.84), faster recoveries after losing the ball (1.27), and even more aerial duels.

BeSoccer Pro reports that his defensive pressures have jumped from 0.98 to 1.55 per game. Mbappé now suffocates opponents for 90 minutes, much like Dembélé does under Luis Enrique with the European champions.