New Duo Looms on the Horizon.. Mbappé and Guler Following in the Footsteps of Özil and Ronaldo

Kylian Mbappé's goal against Levante was not just another magical touch from the Frenchman this season, but it brought back memories of one of Real Madrid's most beautiful past displays for the fans.Real Madrid defeated Levante and continued their strong and exceptional start, especially with Kylian Mbappé under the guidance of Xabi Alonso. However, the Frenchman's fourth goal brought back memories of Cristiano Ronaldo's first "Calma" celebration.Mbappé received a pass from Arda Güler, dribbled past Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, and placed the ball into the net, a scene that blended the present and the past, quickly opening the door for comparisons.Cristiano Ronaldo Silences the Camp NouOn April 21, 2012, Real Madrid entered their match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou for a 'Clásico' that would significantly shape the league title race. The match was in the 35th round of La Liga. Real Madrid held a four-point lead, and a victory in the 'Clásico' would mean reclaiming the La Liga title that Barcelona had dominated for the past three years.Sami Khedira opened the scoring in the first half in the 17th minute, and Alexis Sánchez equalized immediately after coming on in the 70th minute, igniting the Camp Nou.In a magical moment in the 73rd minute, amidst the roar of the Barcelona fans, Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to receive a pass from Mesut Özil, went past goalkeeper Victor Valdés, and scored the second goal.Ronaldo went to the stands and performed his iconic "Calma" celebration, gesturing for the crowd to calm down, as if to say, "I am here."Real Madrid eventually secured the league title with a historic 100 points under coach José Mourinho. That 'Clásico' was the decisive match for the title in favor of Los Blancos.The Özil and Ronaldo Duo and a Swift EndThat was Mesut Özil's second season playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, after the German joined Los Blancos in 2010, one year after the Portuguese star's signing.In the 2012-2013 season, José Mourinho's final season, Real Madrid ended up trophyless, losing the treble in the final moments. They were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund, then lost the Copa del Rey final on the night Ronaldo was sent off against Atlético Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu itself, and La Liga returned to Catalonia.In the summer of 2013, after José Mourinho's departure, Real Madrid appointed Carlo Ancelotti. However, with the arrival of Gareth Bale, there was no longer a place for Mesut Özil, and Carlo Ancelotti agreed to his transfer.Real Madrid also accepted Arsenal's offer, and the German departed after three seasons with Los Blancos, during which the player of Turkish origin played football with artistry rather than just playing it.During his three seasons at Real Madrid, Mesut Özil contributed to numerous goals by assisting Cristiano Ronaldo, who later became Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer.Mesut Özil provided 81 assists for Real Madrid, with 27 of them directly to Cristiano Ronaldo, representing one-third of his total assists.Özil's Assists for Cristiano RonaldoSeasonNumber of Assists2010-2011122011-201272012-20138Total27Mbappé and Güler.. A New Duo Looms at the BernabéuYears passed, Cristiano left after Özil, the latter retired while the former continues to break records, but Real Madrid has a new duo at the Santiago Bernabéu.This season, Los Blancos, under Xabi Alonso, are armed with the duo of Arda Güler and Kylian Mbappé. The pair's statistics promise a different season for both, and why shouldn't the Ronaldo and Özil duo be repeated in a more evolved form?Arda Güler joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2023. During his first season, he struggled with injuries and a lack of cohesion. In his second season, 2024-2025, he got his chance, but he wasn't played in his preferred position close to the penalty area and in the center of the pitch; Carlo Ancelotti mostly used him as a winger.With Xabi Alonso, and in the absence of Bellingham at the start of the season, and even when the Englishman was present at the Club World Cup, the Spanish coach played the young Turkish talent in his preferred position, allowing him to contribute to 7 goals in 12 matches.Güler has provided 4 assists this season with Real Madrid, 3 of which were for Kylian Mbappé, including in the Club World Cup against Borussia Dortmund (which counts towards last season), and in the league matches against Real Oviedo and Levante this season.Arda Güler's partnership with Kylian Mbappé has provided magical solutions for coach Xabi Alonso, and the Frenchman has scored 14 goals since his debut in the Club World Cup until now.During his three seasons with Real Madrid, Arda Güler has provided 12 assists in various competitions, including 4 goals for Kylian Mbappé specifically – a third of his assists.This is the same ratio we mentioned earlier for Mesut Özil and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the difference in the numbers, especially considering the Turkish international hasn't played extensively in the last two seasons.Güler's Assists for MbappéSeasonNumber of Assists2024-202522025-20262Total4