After a dramatic summer that saw Marcus Rashford leave Manchester United on loan to Barcelona following a public fallout with head coach Rúben Amorim — who quipped that his 65-year-old goalkeeper stood a better chance of making the bench than Rashford — the England international has found a fresh spark in La Liga.
Rashford has kicked off his Barcelona career in style, registering five goals and five assists across La Liga and the Champions League this season — none of them from penalties. His resurgence has reignited debate across Europe: how does he stack up against Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s superstar forward leading the line in Spain?
Mbappé has been ruthless as ever for Real Madrid, racking up 16 goals and two assists so far in La Liga and the Champions League combined — including four from the spot. But beyond headline stats, how do the two compare in their overall output per 90 minutes this season? Let’s break down the numbers.
Non-Penalty Goals per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 0.93 | 0.14 |
| Champions League | 0.69 | 1.49 |
Mbappé dominates the La Liga charts with an impressive 0.93 non-penalty goals per 90, while Rashford’s 0.14 suggests he’s still adapting to Spanish football.
However, the tables turn in Europe — Rashford’s 1.49 non-penalty goals per 90 in the Champions League outshine Mbappé’s 0.69, underlining how effective the Englishman has been on continental nights.
Verdict: Rashford is still settling domestically but looks more clinical in Europe’s elite competition.
Assists per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 0.21 | 0.56 |
| Champions League | 0.00 | 0.37 |
In terms of creativity, Rashford edges the contest. The Barcelona forward averages 0.56 assists per 90 in La Liga compared to Mbappé’s 0.21. In Europe, Rashford’s 0.37 assists per 90 also eclipses Mbappé, who’s yet to register one.
Verdict: Rashford’s link-up play and eye for the final pass make him the more productive creator this season.
Shot Accuracy (%)
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 38.8 % | 41.4 % |
| Champions League | 55.0 % | 33.3 % |
Rashford has been slightly sharper in La Liga, landing 41.4 % of his efforts on target compared to Mbappé’s 38.8 %.
But on the European stage, Mbappé’s 55 % shot accuracy dwarfs Rashford’s 33.3 %. Across both competitions, Mbappé averages 46.9 %, proving more consistent overall.
Verdict: Mbappé remains the deadlier finisher across all fronts.
Pass Completion (%)
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 88.9 % | 79.1 % |
| Champions League | 86.1 % | 71.6 % |
Mbappé’s tidy link play shows in his numbers — a combined 87 % pass accuracy, far higher than Rashford’s 75 %.
Verdict: Mbappé is more secure in possession and efficient in combination play.
Key Passes per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 2.78 | 2.80 |
| Champions League | 5.54 | 1.49 |
Rashford marginally edges Mbappé in La Liga key passes (2.80 to 2.78), showing his willingness to create chances in domestic games. Yet in the Champions League, Mbappé explodes with 5.54 key passes per 90, underlining his creative dominance under pressure.
Verdict: Mbappé takes this one overall thanks to his European influence.
Shot-Creation Actions per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 6.99 | 6.43 |
| Champions League | 10.73 | 4.09 |
This metric highlights overall attacking involvement — from take-ons to drawing fouls. Mbappé outperforms Rashford both in Spain and Europe, reaffirming his reputation as Real Madrid’s attacking engine.
Verdict: Mbappé leads comfortably in creative contribution.
Successful Take-Ons per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 2.88 | 1.40 |
| Champions League | 2.42 | 1.49 |
Mbappé continues to shine in direct duels, completing nearly double Rashford’s successful dribbles.
Verdict: Mbappé’s explosive acceleration and one-v-one ability keep him ahead.
Progressive Carrying Distance (yards per 90)
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 124.05 | 94.61 |
| Champions League | 85.85 | 58.02 |
Few players drive forward with the same intent as Mbappé. He averages 124 yards per 90 in La Liga, compared to Rashford’s 94.6.
Verdict: Mbappé’s relentless ball-carrying and forward thrust define his style — he’s clearly superior here.
Dispossessions per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 1.03 | 1.54 |
| Champions League | 0.69 | 1.86 |
Mbappé is more secure when pressed, losing possession less often.
Verdict: Mbappé is harder to dispossess and maintains tighter control.
Crosses per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 0.72 | 5.59 |
| Champions League | 0.00 | 2.98 |
Rashford has reinvented himself as a versatile wide threat at Barcelona, sending in 5.59 crosses per 90 in La Liga and 2.98 in the Champions League.
Verdict: Rashford wins this one easily — he’s added width and delivery to his game, offering more variety in attack.
Ball Recoveries per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 2.26 | 2.10 |
| Champions League | 0.69 | 3.72 |
Mbappé edges Rashford slightly in domestic play, but Rashford works harder off the ball in Europe, averaging nearly four recoveries per 90.
Verdict: Rashford’s defensive work rate gives him the upper hand in the Champions League.
Aerial Duels Won per 90
| Competition | Mbappé | Rashford |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 0.31 | 0.00 |
| Champions League | 0.00 | 0.37 |
While aerial battles aren’t central to either player’s game, Rashford edges ahead in Europe with 0.37 aerials won per 90, while Mbappé leads slightly in Spain.
Verdict: Rashford shows more willingness to contest in the air, especially in European fixtures.
Final Verdict: Two Superstars, Two Different Stories
So far in the 2025-26 season, Kylian Mbappé remains the more polished and consistent performer in La Liga and across most advanced metrics — from finishing and passing accuracy to dribbling and progression.
However, Marcus Rashford’s numbers in the Champions League paint a different picture. The Barcelona loanee has been sharper in front of goal and more productive creatively on European nights, hinting that his form is building steadily.
While Mbappé continues to be Spain’s most complete forward, Rashford’s revival at Barcelona signals that the Englishman might yet re-establish himself among Europe’s elite if his upward curve continues.
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