Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo published a detailed analysis on January 27, 2026, describing what it calls the trained art of Kylian Mbappé when it comes to provoking penalties inside the box. The Barcelona-based publication dissected the Real Madrid forward's recurring pattern of drawing fouls in the penalty area, arguing that Mbappé has refined a deliberate technique that goes beyond natural dribbling ability and borders on calculated simulation. The article has reignited a fierce debate across Spanish football media about whether the French international is being rewarded for gamesmanship rather than genuine skill.
The controversy centers on Mbappé's extraordinary penalty statistics this season. In the 2025-2026 La Liga campaign, the Frenchman has scored seven penalty goals out of 21 total in league play across 20 matches, meaning one-third of his goals have come from the spot. In just one year at Real Madrid, Mbappé has already accumulated 16 penalty goals across all competitions, compared to 25 penalty goals in seven full seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. His career record stands at 77 penalties taken with 63 converted and 14 missed, giving him an 81 percent conversion rate. Coach Xabi Alonso has publicly confirmed that Mbappé is the designated first penalty taker for the squad.
Multiple Spanish sports analysts have scrutinized specific incidents that fuel the debate. In the Real Madrid versus Levante match on January 17, IUSPORT published an analysis titled the penalty on Mbappé as being more provoked than committed, noting that before contact even existed, the Frenchman was already falling with clear intention to provoke the foul. The analyst described how Mbappé left his leg trailing behind, sought the collision, and found it. The penalty was described as not scandalous or invented, but neither a clear natural infraction by the defender, calling it above all an action provoked by the attacker who perfectly reads the opponent's movement and uses it to his advantage.
The latest episode came during the Villarreal versus Real Madrid match on January 24, when Mbappé drew a penalty in the 92nd minute after defender Alfonso Pedraza lunged without measuring his challenge. Mbappé converted with a Panenka-style chip, dedicating the goal to teammate Brahim Diaz who was absent due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco. The 2-0 victory lifted Real Madrid above Barcelona in the La Liga standings, further irritating Catalan media who view the penalty tally as evidence of preferential treatment.
beIN Sports published its own analysis on January 27 highlighting what it described as a pattern at the Santiago Bernabéu where the story often ends at the penalty spot regardless of the opponent. The outlet noted that Mbappé's first league goal under former coach Carlo Ancelotti came from a penalty against Betis, his first under Xabi Alonso from a controversial penalty against Osasuna on the opening day of the season when Mbappé appeared to step on defender Juan Cruz before going to ground, and his first under interim coach Arbeloa again from a penalty against Levante. The analysis questioned whether Mbappé truly needs to resort to these tactics given his immense talent, suggesting that damaging his image with actions that flirt with simulation may be the only opponent he has yet to beat.
Defenders of Mbappé argue that his penalty-drawing ability is a natural consequence of his playing style rather than diving. IUSPORT published a separate piece on January 24 titled Kylian Mbappé, penalty magnet, which argued that unlike many modern attackers who rely on first-touch play and quick passes, Mbappé dribbles extensively, at high speed, and in tight spaces inside the penalty area. The analysis concluded that his explosive acceleration forces defenders into split-second decisions where fouls become inevitable, stating it is not theater but physics and speed, and that a player who accelerates with such power inside the box is inevitably a foul generator.
The broader context includes growing tension between Barcelona-aligned media and Real Madrid over refereeing decisions this season. Real Madrid have been awarded nine penalties across La Liga and Champions League combined, with six in league play alone in the first 11 matches. Barcelona media outlets including Mundo Deportivo and Sport have repeatedly questioned whether the club receives favorable treatment from officials. The debate also touches the Golden Boot race, as Mbappé won the 2024-2025 award with 31 La Liga goals, seven of which were penalties. Without those spot kicks, his tally would have been level with Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski at 24 goals from open play, a statistic Barcelona supporters have been quick to highlight.
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