Can Kylian Mbappé join list of greatest Clásico debuts?

There may not be a more important domestic fixture in the world than El Clásico, the clash between bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Meetings are nothing short of intense and the star power is often overwhelming. In this LaLiga season’s first Clásico on Saturday, a new star makes his debut — Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman — as well as his teammate Endrick and Barcelona’s Dani Olmo — has yet to appear in the iconic match.

Barcelona sit first place in the table and enter Saturday three points ahead of Madrid, having won nine of its first 10 LaLiga matches. Both sides are coming off wins in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week — Madrid had a dramatic comeback against Borussia Dortmund, while Barcelona crushed Bayern Munich.

Whether or not Mbappé, Endrick or Olmo can live up to the hype of past debuts from other big names, the fixture will surely deliver.

Here’s a look back at how notable players fared in their Clásico debuts since 2000.

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Lamine Yamal, Barcelona, 2023

Stats: 21 minutes, 1 shot

Result: 2-1 Real Madrid win

Then 16 years old, Yamal came off the bench in the 76th minute in a 1-1 contest, becoming the youngest player to ever appear in El Clásico. Yamal admitted that while he’d never been nervous in a game before, there were nerves for his debut.

Though his performance on the pitch was limited, Yamal’s inclusion signaled a new era for Barcelona. One year later, he’s one of the most important players for the Catalan side.

Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid, 2023

Stats: 97 minutes, 2 goals, 2 shots

Result: 2-1 Real Madrid win

After his €103 million move, the English midfielder made his presence known early for Real Madrid, notching goals in his first four LaLiga fixtures. But his performance against Barcelona took him to another level.

After Ilkay Gündogan gave Barcelona an early lead, Bellingham responded with a strike to equalize in the 68th minute. Bellingham found the net again in the 92nd minute, propelling Real Madrid to a dramatic win.

Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid, 2019

Stats: 95 minutes, 6 shots

Result: 1-0 Barcelona win

Real Madrid’s signing of Vinícius made him the club’s second-most-expensive player to arrive from the Brazilian league. However, his debut season included just nine starts for Madrid, one of which came in El Clásico.

Vinícius flashed his potential with six shots, three fewer than Barcelona’s entire team. The Catalan side was victorious, however, thanks to a first-half goal from Ivan Rakitic.

Gareth Bale, Real Madrid, 2013

Stats: 61 minutes, 2 shots

Result: 2-1 Barcelona win

Signed only a month and a half before El Clásico, Bale left Tottenham for Real Madrid on a then-world-record fee — €100m.

Bale struggled in his debut, taking two shots before being replaced by Karim Benzema in the 61st minute. Barcelona entered the matchup in strong form and carried it to the pitch, winning 2-1.

Neymar, Barcelona, 2013

Stats: 85 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots

Result: 2-1 Barcelona win

Speaking of high-priced transfers — Neymar’s move to Barcelona in 2013 made him the most expensive transfer ever from the Brazilian league. More than 50,000 fans welcomed the star at Camp Nou for an unveiling of arguably the most exciting young talent in the world.

Neymar’s Clásico debut included similar theatrics. He netted a goal in the 19th minute, then assisted Alexis Sánchez in the 78th to cap off a memorable performance.

David Villa, Barcelona, 2010

Stats: 78 minutes, 2 goals, 3 shots

Result: 5-0 Barcelona win

Signed earlier in the summer for €40m from Valencia, Villa came to Barcelona in top form, fresh off a World Cup win with Spain.

That form carried over as he had a key role in one of the most famous Clásico games of all time. Villa netted two goals in three minutes, sending the Camp Nou fans into a frenzy and shocking Madrid en route to a rout.

Zlatan Ibrahimović, Barcelona, 2009

Stats: 42 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot

Result: 1-0 Barcelona win

The Swedish striker came to Spain after a dominant 29-goal, 11-assist campaign with Inter Milan. 60,000 fans welcomed Ibrahimović at a Camp Nou unveiling, and he made their support worth it against Madrid.

With the game goalless, Ibrahimović came on in the 51st minute and scored the decisive goal five minutes later with his first, and only, shot of the match — a one-touch half volley. Talk about an impact sub.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, 2009

Stats: 66 minutes, 3 shots

Result: 1-0 Barcelona win