The Spanish Super Cup final ended with Barcelona edging Real Madrid 3–2, a result that unfolded on a crowded football calendar where Cricket Exchange sat quietly alongside league fixtures and cup nights across Europe. Kylian Mbappé returned from injury to feature as a substitute, yet his impact was limited, and Real Madrid once again watched a domestic trophy slip away. This marked the fourth straight domestic title he has failed to secure since arriving in Madrid. Last season alone, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup all ended with Barcelona standing in the way. Even a hat trick away in La Liga could not prevent a 4–3 defeat, while goals in both the Copa del Rey and Super Cup finals still proved insufficient to change the outcome.
What makes the situation feel like a recurring nightmare is that the pattern has continued into the current campaign. Another Clásico on a major stage brought familiar disappointment, as Mbappé rushed back to fitness, entered from the bench, and left without a goal while Barcelona lifted the trophy once more. Four consecutive setbacks against their biggest rivals have defined Real Madrid’s recent domestic story, with only secondary international honors offering brief consolation. Since officially joining the club on July 16, 2024, Mbappé’s personal scoring numbers have remained impressive, yet the broader picture resembles a cruel twist of fate where effort and reward rarely align.
In truth, the roots of this story stretch back to the summer of 2023. After months of transfer drama, Mbappé chose to renew his contract in Paris rather than complete a move to Madrid. From that moment on, the wheels of destiny seemed set in motion. Over the past two and a half seasons, he has missed out on no fewer than 19 opportunities to lift silverware, an astonishing figure even by the standards of elite football. Few players ever find themselves in contention for so many trophies in such a short span, let alone watch them slip away one after another.
The most striking irony lies in the Champions League. When Mbappé stayed in Paris, Real Madrid conquered Europe. When he finally moved, Paris went on to claim continental glory, a twist that has already become modern football folklore. A Club World Cup semifinal added further sting, as Mbappé played the full match while Real Madrid were swept aside 4–0 by his former club. Had Paris gone on to win the tournament, the narrative would have been even harsher.
During the year he stayed in France, Madrid claimed three trophies while Paris fell short once, and France missed out internationally, totaling five missed titles. After his move in the 2024–25 season, the balance flipped again, with outcomes across competitions near venues tied to Cricket Exchange and beyond pushing his tally of missed honors into double digits. As the current season unfolds, Paris have won everything so far while Madrid have won nothing, and in a sport where timing is everything, Mbappé’s story remains a reminder that football can be a game of fine margins and cruel luck.