Kylian Mbappé’s Stellar Performance: A Nod to Ronaldo’s Legacy
In the world of football, few names resonate as powerfully as Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo. On a thrilling Saturday evening, Mbappé added another feather to his cap by matching Ronaldo’s goal tally in his debut season with Real Madrid. This achievement came during a nail-biting 3-2 comeback win over Leganés, a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The game kicked off with Mbappé converting a first-half penalty, putting Madrid ahead 1-0 at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu. However, the lead was short-lived as Leganés quickly responded with a goal from Diego Garcia, leveling the score. The visitors then took the lead with a goal from Dani Raba, making it 2-1 before the halftime whistle.
But Real Madrid wasn’t done yet. Jude Bellingham reignited hope by pulling a goal back after the break. Then, it was Mbappé’s moment to shine again, as he netted his second goal of the match, securing the victory and bringing his total to 33 goals in all competitions this season. This remarkable feat places him just behind Chilean striker Iván Zamorano, who scored 37 goals in his first season with the Spanish giants.
Reflecting on his achievement, Mbappé shared with Real Madrid TV, “It’s very special. The most important things are the ones you do with the team, but to score the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good. We know what Cristiano represents for Real Madrid and for me.”
He added, “We always talk, he gives me advice. It’s good to score goals, but as I always say, we have to win trophies here.”
This victory was crucial for Real Madrid as it allowed them to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table. Both teams are currently tied with 63 points, with Barcelona set to face Girona on Sunday.
Mbappé’s 33 goals, 22 of which have come in the league, have been scored in just 45 games. With Madrid still in the hunt for three major trophies—LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League—Mbappé’s form is more crucial than ever.
“We’ve been working all year for this moment,” Mbappé said. “We’ll give everything to win games and all the trophies we can.”
He continued, “It’s always difficult after the international break, you have one rhythm with your club, you go away with your national team and it’s something else. But we know what we always have to do: win.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Mbappé’s recent performances, stating, “He’s playing well. He’s more active, more present in our play. He’s making the difference, and that’s what we want from him.”
Ancelotti also revealed an interesting tidbit: Mbappé had practiced a similar goal to his match-winner—a clever indirect free kick—during training the day before. “We worked on it with the coaching staff,” Mbappé explained. “I knew that I could shoot like that, I saw the space, and it worked well … It’s a team effort, with the staff.”
Looking ahead, Real Madrid has a packed schedule. They will host Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Tuesday, followed by a LaLiga clash with Valencia, and then a highly anticipated Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal.
- Real Madrid and Barcelona are tied at the top of the LaLiga table with 63 points each.
- Mbappé has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season, with 22 in the league.
- Madrid is still competing for LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League titles.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
