Soccer star Kylian Mbappé officially has completed his free transfer to Real Madrid, with social media quickly comparing the move to Kevin Durant’s highly-scrutinized July 2016 decision to join the Warriors in NBA free agency.
Mbappé, widely recognized as one of the greatest players on the planet, joins a Real Madrid side that just won the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three seasons, with social media drawing a parallel to Durant joining Golden State on the heels of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
The comparison is interesting, it should be noted Durant joined a Warriors team that had just lost the NBA Finals, while Mbappé is joining a Madrid side that just captured the world’s most prestigious club trophy without his services.
However Durant did join a team with reigning MVP in Steph Curry, and Mbappé is joining a squad with multiple Ballon d’Or contenders in Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.
Mbappé, 25, spent the past seven seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, winning the League 1 — the top flight of French soccer — title in six of those campaigns. Despite the domestic success, Mbappé and PSG never were able to secure the elusive Champions League trophy Real Madrid won for a record 15th time last weekend.
The 25-year-old superstar also captains France’s national team, serving as a key cog in the country’s 2018 World Cup title. Mbappé did all he could in France’s 2022 World Cup Final loss to Argentina, scoring a hat trick before ultimately losing on penalties to Lionel Messi’s side.
Durant and Golden State went on to win back-to-back NBA Finals, falling just shy of a three-peat after serious injuries derailed the Warriors’ 2019 championship hopes.
Pundits have downplayed Durant’s achievements with Golden State — two Larry O’Brien trophies and back-to-back Finals MVP honors — due to the talent the Warriors already possessed before his arrival. Will Mbappé be held to the same standards if Madrid continues its dominance in European soccer? Time will tell, but for now the comparison seems fitting to many.
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Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
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