Kylian Mbappé’s Remarkable Season: Matching Ronaldo’s Tally and Leading Real Madrid to Victory
In the world of football, few names resonate as powerfully as Kylian Mbappé. The French forward has been making waves since his early days, and his recent performance with Real Madrid is no exception. On a thrilling Saturday evening, Mbappé showcased his exceptional talent by scoring twice in a 3-2 comeback win over Leganés. This victory not only secured three crucial points for Madrid but also allowed Mbappé to match the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo‘s goal tally in his debut season with the club.
Mbappé’s first-half penalty set the tone for the match, putting Madrid 1-0 up at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu. However, the lead was short-lived as Leganés quickly responded with a goal from Diego Garcia, and then Dani Raba made it 2-1 for the visitors before the break.
But the drama didn’t end there. Jude Bellingham brought Madrid back into the game with a crucial goal after halftime, setting the stage for Mbappé to shine once more. His second goal of the match not only secured the win but also brought 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 expressed his delight to Real Madrid TV, saying, “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.”
The victory was crucial for 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 acknowledged the challenges of maintaining form after international breaks, stating, “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, noting, “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 that Mbappé had practiced a similar goal to his match-winner—a clever indirect free kick involving Fran García—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, Madrid faces a busy 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.
- Kylian Mbappé has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season.
- Mbappé is just four goals shy of Iván Zamorano’s record for a debut season at Real Madrid.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
