On an unforgettable night at the Santiago Bernabéu, French star Kylian Mbappé expressed his immense pride after equaling the record held by his idol, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappé reached 59 goals for Real Madrid in a single calendar year, following his performance in the team's 2-0 victory over Sevilla in La Liga.
Christmas Eve and the fulfillment of a dream
This match coincided with the French star's 27th birthday, and he insisted on making his mark by scoring a decisive penalty in the 86th minute. This goal not only gave his team peace of mind in the match, but also put him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the same amazing record in 2013, a period when the "Madeira Rocket" was at the peak of his football career.
In comments made to Real Madrid's official channel, Mbappe said with obvious emotion: "It is a very special day because it coincides with my birthday. I always said in my childhood that playing for Real Madrid on my birthday was my dream, and today this dream has come true at the club I love.".
Following in the footsteps of legends
The Real Madrid striker added: "The main objective was to end the year with a positive result for the team, but achieving this record is truly amazing. To do what Cristiano, my idol and the best player in the history of Real Madrid and one of the greatest to have ever touched the ball in the world, did is a great honor that cannot be compared to anything.".
This achievement takes on particular significance given the historical context; Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 matches, a record that seemed unbreakable for many years. However, Mbappé's explosive start, having now reached 73 goals in 83 matches, indicates that the Frenchman is steadily progressing towards etching his name in the club's history books.
Shine amidst the challenges
Despite Real Madrid undergoing a transitional phase and facing technical challenges this season under coach Xabi Alonso, Mbappé has been a constant and shining star in the team's performance. The lethal striker has scored 29 goals in 24 matches across all competitions this season, reaffirming his status as the reigning European Golden Shoe and La Liga top scorer, a title he won last season. He currently leads the La Liga scoring charts with 18 goals.
A special salute to "The Don"
Mbappé didn't just make statements; he translated his admiration for Ronaldo into action on the pitch. After scoring his goal, Mbappé celebrated by imitating Ronaldo's famous jump and shout (Siuuu), a scene that ignited the enthusiasm of Real Madrid fans and brought back memories of a golden era.
Mbappe commented on the celebration, saying: "It's an honor for me, I wanted to pay a special tribute to him. He has always been kind to me, and gave me advice on how to adapt to Madrid and the nature of life here. I usually have my own celebration, but today it was for him. He was my idol in my childhood, as I used to hang his pictures in my room, and now he is a friend with whom I have a great relationship.".
It is worth noting that Mbappe joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain after a long series of negotiations, quickly proving to be the most successful and influential signing in the new era of the Royal Club.
