Until a few weeks ago, there was a player wearing the number 9 at the same spot, moving like Kylian but not quite him. It was him in black and white, him with lag, him uncomfortable, like wearing new shoes that pinch. But in Valladolid in the 3-0 La Liga win on Saturday, it became clear that now, the player donning the number 9 and pointing to the Real Madrid badge in celebration is indeed Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe is now in the box, having found his scoring rhythm and in tune with his teammates. "I said on my first day that I can play in all three forward positions and that I needed to adapt to the team, and now both things are clear," he boasted after his hat-trick against Valladolid.

He has scored eight goals in his last five matches. For his latest three goals, which Karl Hein (Valladolid) conceded, he only needed three shots on target. Bang, bang, bang. As a central striker, as Carlo Ancelotti has advocated.

"He's the best centre forward in the world," Ancelotti proudly declared after the match against Las Palmas. Doubts about his position since arriving and the coach's insistence on playing him as a '9', despite his tendency to drift to the left wing, have evaporated. His runs are no longer rushed, and his movements in crowded penalty areas are now graceful.

Mbappe is now leading the team. He connects well with Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, and Federico Valverde. In the two La Liga matches where Vinicius Junior was absent due to suspension, he demonstrated that the team was not bereft by scoring five goals. "The movements come naturally with them," Mbappe said about his teammates, who are all in awe of him, as Valverde expressed: "We've always believed in him, we've tried to help him in any way possible to make him happy and well-settled. He doesn't need many chances to score; with the first one, it's a goal."

The dressing room, led by his 'rivals', is determined to make him the top scorer. "Kylian came to help, and we will help him to become the Pichichi in all competitions," Vinicius, another contender for the scoring titles, has said. Gradually, without overpowering or dictating, Mbappe has naturally assumed the leadership role on the pitch that he deserves.

Mbappe is now breathing down Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski's neck. In a flash, he has closed the gap with the Polish striker for the Pichichi trophy and is now just two goals behind. His feast in Valladolid also positions him as a contender for the Golden Boot, currently led by LIverpool's Mohamed Salah with 19 goals, four more than the French star.

The ball from his first hat-trick with Madrid now rests in his collection, which eagerly awaits many more. It has taken a few months, but since the first page of the 2025 calendar was turned, something has changed at Chamartín. The 'Mbappe Era' is now well underway.

Kylian Mbappe's mastery has finally arrived at Real Madrid