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Will this be the year Mbappe finally lands an elusive Champions League triumph?
Despite conquering almost every domestic and international trophy, Kylian Mbappe has never lifted the holy grail of European club football, the UEFA Champions League.
At the age of 26, the French superstar has rocketed through the ranks – from a prodigy at AS Monaco, to global phenomenon at Paris Saint-Germain and finally to an icon of the Bernabeu with Real Madrid – yet that prized trophy remains conspicuously absent.
With the 2025-26 season underway and Mbappe in scintillating form, could this be the year he fills that last void?
Mbappe’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After bursting onto the scene as a teenager in Monaco’s 2016 title run, he moved to PSG and swiftly became the face of French football: a lightning-fast forward, capable of winning matches single-handedly.
His move to Real Madrid in 2024 only reinforced his status as one of the game’s elite. In his debut La Liga campaign he smashed in 31 goals in 34 appearances and securing both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe.
Yet that unrivalled individual dominance has failed to translate into Champions League glory for him personally.
And that is the curious irony. Although he has featured in multiple Champions League campaigns, Mbappe has never bestrode Europe’s stage at the very highest level. And crucially, his former club PSG clinched the title in 2025 after his departure.
That fact alone must rankle – the club he left finally capturing the prize while he continues to chase it elsewhere. And now at Real Madrid, the mammoth task of matching the club’s legacy sits in front of him.
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The 2025-26 season provides fresh hope. On the domestic front Mbappe has hit the ground running: eight La Liga appearances, nine goals and two assists so far demonstrates he is fully primed.
His underlying numbers also impress – a non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 of around 0.93 in La Liga speaks to his consistently elite output.
With Real Madrid renewing their attacking ambition and building around the Frenchman’s explosive profile, the stage is set for both club and forward to aim for silverware.
But the Champions League remains the final frontier. Mbappe may have won a World Cup, league titles, domestic cups and personal laurels, yet the omission of a European crown still stands out on his CV.
The pressure is acute: Real Madrid’s history demands it; Mbappe’s own legacy demands it. Every minute he spends chasing down midfielders, every sprint past defenders, every flick in the box carries the weight of expectation. He needs to merge his pre-eminent form with the collective consistency demanded at this level.
If Madrid reach the latter stages of the Champions League this season, it will fall to Mbappe to seize the moment. He has the abilities: speed, finishing, tactical intelligence and the hunger to match the game’s elite.
What remains is timing and the almost alchemical blend of individual brilliance and team ascendancy required to lift the trophy.
As the group stage ramps up and Real Madrid sharpen for their tilt at Europe, all eyes will be on the No.10 – will this be the year Mbappe finally lands that elusive Champions League triumph?
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
