Kylian Mbappé's Hat-Trick and Mourinho's Unity at Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick against Real Sociedad will own the highlight reels. It always does when a superstar drops three in a night. But behind the fireworks, something deeper is starting to take shape at Real Madrid.
According to AS, Mbappé and the rest of the dressing room have begun to buy into a simple idea José Mourinho has been hammering home since he walked through the door: individual glory is empty if the team is not moving as one.
Mbappé has never needed lessons in ruthlessness. His three goals in the 4-1 win were another cold reminder of how quickly he can rip a game away from an opponent. What is turning heads now is not just the finishing, but the feeling around the squad.
Old disputes? For the moment, pushed into the background. The early weeks of the season have shown a group that looks more aligned, more connected, and that harmony over Madrid’s first two competitive matches has given Mourinho something he craves — a base to build from.
Mourinho’s message starts to land
Unity has been at the heart of Mourinho’s work since day one. Not as a slogan, but as a demand. The response so far looks promising.
Real Madrid are stacked with individual talent. Everyone knows that. Mourinho also knows that talent on its own has a ceiling, especially in a season loaded with major competitions and relentless pressure. Players have to run for each other when legs are heavy and the spotlight gets harsh.
Mbappé seems to have understood the shift. For most of his career, the conversation around him has been about numbers: goals, assists, records. That will never disappear — a striker is still judged first by what he puts on the scoreboard.
But the game’s biggest individual honours almost always ride on the back of team success. Mbappé’s goals can drag Madrid to trophies. Madrid’s trophies can, in turn, sharpen his case when awards are handed out. The relationship is obvious, and this season it feels more openly acknowledged.
A hat-trick with perfect timing
His demolition of Real Sociedad could hardly have been better timed.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on October 27, and France Football is expected to publish its 30-man shortlist in the coming days. No one agrees on a precise formula for the award, and the debate over this year’s contenders is still wide open.
The World Cup looms large in that discussion. Spain’s leading players, fresh from their triumph, are likely to be heavily represented. Paris Saint-Germain’s continued Champions League runs have also pushed several of their stars into the frame.
Mbappé, though, is making sure his name does not drift out of the conversation. Nights like the one against Real Sociedad keep him front and centre when ballots are cast and arguments flare.
Mbappé and Madrid, locked together
The Ballon d’Or is an individual prize, but Mbappé’s strongest case will depend as much on the collective around him as on his own brilliance. That is why Madrid’s early sense of togetherness carries weight.
Two matches do not erase every doubt about this squad. They do not guarantee that tensions will never resurface or that form will never dip. But they do suggest Mourinho has found a group ready to lean into his message.
And at the front of it, Mbappé has started the campaign at full speed — chasing goals, chasing trophies, and knowing that this season, he and Real Madrid need each other more than ever.
