Kylian Mbappe Calls it ‘Remarkable’ to Match Cristiano Ronaldo’s Goal Record at Real Madrid

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe expressed his delight at equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive first-season tally of 33 goals for Los Blancos, achieving this milestone after scoring a brace on Saturday against Leganes in La Liga.

With this double strike, Mbappe reached 33 goals in 44 matches across all competitions, matching the iconic total Ronaldo achieved during the 2009-10 season.

Ronaldo, who made the switch from Manchester United, went on to become Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer, amassing an astonishing 450 goals.

“It’s incredibly special… to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always a great feeling,” Mbappe shared with Real Madrid TV.

“We all know the significance he holds for Real Madrid and for me personally; we stay in touch, and he offers me a lot of guidance. He has scored countless goals – but ultimately, our focus must be on winning trophies here.“

Mbappe opened the scoring with a perfectly executed Panenka penalty that floated straight down the middle. After Madrid fell behind, he crucially levelled the game with a stunning free-kick, contributing to their 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

This triumph saw Madrid draw level with leaders Barcelona at the pinnacle of the table, pending the Catalan side’s match against Girona on Sunday.

Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti lauded Mbappe’s performance, noting the striker’s resurgence after a shaky start following his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

“He’s performing exceptionally well, and he’s much more engaged and influential in the team’s play,” Ancelotti remarked to the media.

“He’s making a significant impact, and that’s precisely what we expect from him.“

Previously, Ancelotti hinted that Mbappe has the potential to uphold Ronaldo’s legacy at Madrid, but emphasised that it would require considerable effort.

“He possesses the ability to match those numbers, but he needs to put in the work because Cristiano set an incredibly high standard. However, he is genuinely thrilled to be here and has the potential to reach Cristiano’s level,” Ancelotti stated back in February, following Mbappe’s hat-trick against Manchester City.