Madrid Daily: Yamal’s Mbappé verdict, Courtois’ update, and the race to 100

Mourinho and Real Madrid players attend Formula 1's return to Madrid

José Mourinho and much of Real Madrid's squad spent Sunday afternoon at the Spanish Grand Prix after completing their training session at Valdebebas. The race at Madring, the new circuit around IFEMA, brought Formula 1 back to Madrid 45 years after Gilles Villeneuve's victory at Jarama in 1981. Madrid's players made the short journey after continuing preparations for Tuesday's match against Elche .

Vinícius Júnior , Eduardo Camavinga , Éder Militão, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Thibaut Courtois gathered around Max Verstappen's Red Bull on the starting grid. Mourinho, Yan Diomande , Arda Güler, Brahim Díaz and Denzel Dumfries were also involved in presenting Verstappen with a Real Madrid shirt. Elsewhere in the paddock, Jude Bellingham , Marc Cucurella , Ibrahima Konaté, Trent Alexander-Arnold , Bernardo Silva , Fede Valverde and Rodrygo were among those spotted.

The occasion also brought together several generations of former Madrid players. Zinedine Zidane and Sergio Ramos shared an embrace in the pit lane, while David Beckham, Luís Figo, Raúl, Roberto Carlos, Iker Casillas , Dani Carvajal and David Alaba were also in attendance. Atlético Madrid had a substantial presence across the weekend, with Diego Simeone presenting Lando Norris with the pole-position award on Saturday.

Kimi Antonelli won Sunday's race and received the winner's trophy from King Felipe VI, who attended alongside Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. AS reported a Sunday attendance of 120,000 and a total of 352,000 across the Grand Prix weekend, with extensive fan areas offering karting, classic-car displays and other activities away from the track.

Yamal: "Mbappé and I are the two best in the world"

Lamine Yamal has named Kylian Mbappé alongside himself as the world's two best players, while arguing that his own achievements make him the more deserving Ballon d'Or candidate this year. The Barcelona forward made the comments in an interview with Jorge Valdano for Movistar+'s Universo Valdano , excerpts of which were released on Sunday.

"Who would I give the Ballon d'Or to? The best in the world. Who are they going to give it to? That's a very long discussion. I honestly think that maybe there are two of us who are the best in the world. And I think I deserve it this year because of what I've won. Because for me, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. For me, it's very clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it."

Courtois reassures fans after shoulder concern

Thibaut Courtois has moved to ease concerns about his shoulder following Real Madrid's 4–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. The Belgian appeared uncomfortable after saving a powerful Pedro Díaz effort, subsequently moving his shoulder and touching the affected area. With the Madrid derby approaching, those gestures prompted questions about his availability.

Speaking to Pablo Pinto at Madring on Sunday, however, Courtois said that "everything is fine" and indicated that his participation in the derby was not in jeopardy. His comments offered reassurance after a match in which he was again required to make several important interventions despite Madrid's three-goal winning margin.

La Fábrica prepares for the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup

Real Madrid will host Santiago Wanderers at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m. Madrid time in the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup. The fixture brings together the UEFA Youth League and CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 champions and will be the competition's first edition played in Europe. Madrid qualified by beating Club Brugge on penalties in April's Youth League final in Lausanne.

According to AS, the club intends to give Álvaro López a particularly strong group for the occasion, drawing on eligible players across its academy teams. Sergio Martínez, the recent €3 million signing who has already featured for Castilla and received a first-team call-up, is expected to be among the attractions. Thiago Pitarch's involvement remains uncertain: although he has recovered from injury, his place in Mourinho's first-team plans means his availability for the youth final is not guaranteed.

The age requirement allows players born on or after January 1, 2006 to participate. That leaves Madrid able to draw on much of the remaining core of the Youth League-winning side, including Javi Navarro, Fortea, Joan Martínez, Mario Rivas, Cestero, Carlos Díez, Yáñez and Ciria. AS reports that the scheduled matches involving Castilla, Real Madrid C and Juvenil A have been postponed, allowing the academy to concentrate on the Bernabéu fixture.

Santiago Wanderers arrive as the first Chilean club to win the Libertadores Sub-20. They secured their place by equalising late against defending champions Flamengo before winning the final on penalties. Among their key players is Christian Silva, the tournament's leading scorer and most valuable player, while several members of the successful youth side have already established themselves in the club's senior team.

Tickets are priced between €15 and €24 , with Madrid seeking to become the first Spanish winner of the competition. Benfica won the inaugural edition in 2022, Boca Juniors followed in 2023, and Flamengo claimed the trophy in both 2024 and 2025, beating Barcelona on penalties in last year's final. For Madrid's academy, the match offers another trophy opportunity after a season that already delivered the league, Copa de Campeones and Youth League.

Mbappé moves within eight goals of a Madrid century

Kylian Mbappé's brace against Rayo Vallecano brought his Real Madrid tally to 92 goals , leaving him eight short of reaching a century early in his third season at the club. The Frenchman now has six league goals this campaign after scoring at either end of Saturday's victory.

His opener came from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Álvaro Carreras was brought down by Florian Lejeune . Carreras then combined with Mbappé to score Madrid's second, before Jude Bellingham made it 3–0. Rayo reduced the deficit through Sergio Camello , but Mbappé completed his double in stoppage time, finishing first-time from an Arda Güler pass to settle the score at 4–1.

The approaching milestone invites a comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo , who reached 100 competitive goals for Madrid in his 105th appearance, against Lyon on November 2, 2011. Mbappé is closing in on the same landmark at a similar stage of his third season, although the calendar comparison should not be confused with matching Ronaldo's appearance total.