The 2026/27 Laliga season is only four matches old, but one of its most interesting individual battles is already developing between Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé and Yamal have both started the season strongly, and the two are now level in the Laliga scoring race after four matches.
As of September 9, Mbappé has scored four Laliga goals in four appearances, while Lamine Yamal also has four goals in four matches after scoring twice against Valencia. Barcelona’s Raphinha leads the early Laliga scoring race with six goals.
So can Yamal stay level with Mbappé over the full campaign, or is the Real Madrid forward still the stronger candidate to finish the season with more goals?
Lamine Yamal vs Mbappé: 2026/27 Laliga Goals So Far
| Player | Club | Laliga Matches | Goals | Goals per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | 4 | 4 | 1.00 |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 4 | 4 | 1.00 |
Updated September 9, 2026. The scoring race will be refreshed as the season progresses.
The race is now level after four matches, but that still represents only a small part of a 38-match Laliga season.
Mbappé Has the Stronger Scoring Record
If the comparison is purely about goals, Mbappé starts as the favorite.
The Real Madrid forward scored 25 Laliga goals during the 2025/26 season, compared with Yamal’s 16.
| Player | 2025/26 Laliga Goals | 2026/27 Goals After 4 Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | 25 | 4 |
| Lamine Yamal | 16 | 4 |
Mbappé has carried that scoring form directly into the new season. Four goals from his first four matches means he is averaging exactly one goal per game.
That early form was highlighted by his hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Yamal’s Role Is Different From Mbappé’s
The comparison becomes more complicated when looking beyond raw goals.
Yamal is not simply Barcelona’s central goalscorer. He regularly operates from wide areas, creates chances, carries the ball into dangerous positions and contributes to Barcelona’s attack through both goals and assists.
Mbappé, meanwhile, is much more directly associated with finishing attacks for Real Madrid.
That difference matters in a straight who will score more goals? comparison.
Yamal Is Becoming a More Dangerous Goalscorer
That does not mean Yamal should be ruled out.
He scored 16 times in Laliga last season and has already added four more in his first four matches of 2026/27.
Yamal also recently reached 50 senior goals for Barcelona, another indication of how quickly his attacking output has developed despite still being only 19.
The biggest question is whether his development shifts him from being an elite creator who also scores into a genuine 20-plus-goal league player.
His latest league goals came against Valencia on September 6, when he scored twice to bring his total to four Laliga goals in four appearances. His previous contribution came in Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano.
Barcelona’s Attack Could Work Against Yamal
Barcelona’s attacking strength is both an advantage and a disadvantage for Yamal’s individual scoring numbers.
Barcelona’s attack remains highly productive. Raphinha leads the early Laliga scoring race with six goals, while Mbappé and Yamal are level on four each after four matches.
That means Barcelona do not necessarily need Yamal to be their primary scorer every week. For Barcelona, that is excellent. For Yamal’s chances of beating Mbappé in an individual scoring race, it makes the challenge harder.
Real Madrid Need Mbappé’s Goals
Mbappé’s situation is somewhat different.
While Real Madrid have other dangerous attacking players, Mbappé remains one of the most obvious destinations for their attacking moves.
His previous 25-goal league season demonstrates that he already has the profile of a player capable of challenging for the Laliga scoring title.
- Mbappé: 4 goals
- Yamal: 4 goals
- Current difference: 0 goals — level
Keep track of the wider title and scoring context through the latest Laliga standings.
Could Penalties Decide the Race?
Penalty responsibility could become another important factor. Over a full Laliga season, penalties can add several goals to a player’s total.
A change in penalty responsibilities, injuries or tactical roles could significantly affect the final numbers, which is why this comparison should be updated throughout the campaign.
What Yamal Needs to Do to Beat Mbappé
For Yamal to finish above Mbappé, several things probably need to happen.
- Increase his scoring consistency across the full season.
- Turn more attacking involvement into shots and goals rather than assists alone.
- Stay available and start consistently throughout the campaign.
- Move closer to or beyond the 20-goal mark in Laliga.
Why Mbappé Is the Favorite
At this stage, the evidence favors Mbappé.
He scored nine more Laliga goals than Yamal last season, although the two players are now level on four Laliga goals after four appearances this season.
His role is also better suited to accumulating goals, while Yamal contributes to Barcelona’s attack in more ways than scoring alone.
Both players already feature prominently in our Top 10 Best Players in Laliga 2026 ranking.
Prediction: Who Will Score More Laliga Goals?
Prediction: Kylian Mbappé will finish the 2026/27 Laliga season with more goals than Lamine Yamal.
Mbappé still has the stronger combination of historical scoring output, finishing responsibility, positioning and proven ability to score more than 20 league goals in a season, even though the two players are currently level on four goals.
LaLigaUpdate Prediction
| Player | Projected Laliga Goals |
|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | 25-30 |
| Lamine Yamal | 18-23 |
These are LaLigaUpdate projections, not guarantees. They should be revisited as the 2026/27 season develops.
The most interesting possibility is that Yamal can sustain this scoring pace over the full season. If he does, the Yamal vs Mbappé goals race could become one of the biggest individual storylines of the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of September 9, 2026, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are level on four Laliga goals each after four matches.
Mbappé scored 25 Laliga goals during the 2025/26 season.
Lamine Yamal scored 16 Laliga goals during the 2025/26 campaign.
Based on their previous scoring records, roles and early-season form, Mbappé is currently the stronger candidate to finish with more goals.
As of September 9, 2026, Raphinha leads the Laliga scoring race with six goals. Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are level on four goals each after four matches, and Matchday 4 is complete.
You Might Also Be Interested in Reading
- Top 10 Best Players in Laliga 2026: Ranked
- Laliga Results August 31, 2026: Barcelona Hit Five Against Rayo
- Mbappé Hat-Trick Leads Real Madrid to 4-1 Win Over Real Sociedad
- Laliga Standings
- Laliga Schedule 2026/27
Update note: This article is intended to be refreshed throughout the 2026/27 season as the scoring race changes.
