December 21 – French superstar Kylian Mbappé keeps finding new ways to underline just how extraordinary his career already is. On Saturday, he tied former Galactico Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most goals scored by a Real Madrid player in a calendar year.
The moment passed without a worldy as Madrid cruised towards a win over Sevilla when Mbappé stepped up late to convert a penalty, sealing a 2–0 victory and writing his name alongside one of football’s defining figures. On his 27th birthday, his celebration paid homage to Ronaldo’s famous ‘Siu’, followed by a kiss to the cameras.
“It’s incredible in my first year doing what Cristiano did,” Mbappé said afterward. “He’s the best player in Real Madrid’s history, a role model in world football. It’s an honour for me.” He added that the celebration was intentional. “He was my idol as a kid… I wanted to share it with him today.”
From Monaco prodigy to World Cup winner at 19, to global superstar at Paris Saint-Germain, and now the centerpiece of Real Madrid’s next era, his career has unfolded at a pace few players in history can match. What makes this chapter different is the weight of the shirt. In Madrid, numbers are not enough on their own. They come with comparison.
With 29 goals this season, Mbappé leads LaLiga with 18 and is tied with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane for the most goals among players in Europe’s top five leagues. Madrid coach Xabi Alonso summed it up simply: “I congratulate him, and I encourage him to start 2026 well.”
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