Hat-trick hero Mbappe wants LaLiga title more than individual success
Real Madrid were indebted to a hat-trick on Saturday from Kylian Mbappe, who is more focused on the team than individual success.
Kylian Mbappe insists winning the LaLiga title will mean more to him than his first Real Madrid hat-trick.
The France international scored his first treble for Carlo Ancelotti's side, powering Madrid to a 3-0 win away to Real Valladolid.
It marked a first hat-trick for the club just 19 LaLiga games into his career, with only Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor needing fewer games to score their first treble for the club this century.
Mbappe has now scored 15 league goals this season, and 22 in all competitions, after finding the net eight times in his last five games.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo had previously suggested they want to help the World Cup winner end as the league's top scorer, though Mbappe is focused on reclaiming Madrid's LaLiga crown.
"That's nice, but I could say I need to help them too," Mbappe responded to his team-mates' comments.
"We all want the team to win. If I'm top scorer, great - I've done it a lot of times in my career - but winning the league is the most important thing for me."
The result left Madrid top of the LaLiga table on 49 points, four points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Villarreal earlier on the same day.
"I'm happy with the hat-trick, but I'm more happy with the win," Mbappe added on Real Madrid TV. "It was very important to win. After Atleti's result, there was more pressure."
Since the start of last December, only Newcastle United's Alexander Isak (14) has scored more goals than Mbappe (13) in all competitions among players from Europe's top five leagues.
Indeed, the former Paris Saint-German star is one of the world's most in-form attackers, which Ancelotti acknowledged when calling him "the best centre-forward in the world" last weekend.
Mbappe reiterated his commitment to the team, however, suggesting he will play wherever to suit Ancelotti's host of attacking talent.
"I said the first day here that I can play in all three positions in attack," the Frenchman added when asked about playing centrally.
"My adaptation is over for sure. I feel good, with my movements, and my team-mates, you can see it on the pitch."