Kylian Mbappé makes history: Equal record with Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé made history at the Santiago Bernabéu by becoming the first Real Madrid player to score more than 30 goals in his debut LaLiga season. After converting a rebound from a missed penalty and sealing the 2–0 win with a late second goal, the French forward capped off a record-breaking performance in front of a crowd honoring Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić.

As fans packed the Santiago Bernabéu to show their appreciation for Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić for their service and success at the club, Kylian Mbappé made sure to leave his mark as well.

In the 38th minute, after missing a penalty, he pounced on the rebound to break the deadlock. Then, with just seven minutes left in the match, Mbappé doubled his tally with a precise finish, securing Real Madrid’s 2–0 win. With that brace, he made history as the first Real Madrid player to score more than 30 goals in his debut LaLiga season.

With this performance, Mbappé also became the first player since Lionel Messi to score at least 30 goals in a single LaLiga season. Additionally, he’s the first Real Madrid player to hit that milestone since Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2014–15 campaign, underlining how quickly he’s adapted to Spanish football. He now leads Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 25 goals this season, in the race for the prestigious Pichichi Trophy, awarded to LaLiga’s top scorer.

Mbappé also moved ahead of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres in the European Golden Shoe standings, finishing the season with 31 league goals, good for 62 points. Gyökeres sits at 58.5 points. While Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah still has an outside shot—he’d need four goals against Crystal Palace on Premier League’s final matchday—Mbappé currently tops the leaderboard for Europe’s most prolific striker.

His remarkable 31-goal tally puts him in elite company. Mbappé is now only the fourth player in LaLiga history to score 30 or more goals in their debut season, joining a legendary group: Pruden (33 goals in 1940–41), Romário (30 goals in 1993–94), and Ronaldo Nazário (34 goals in 1996–97). These are icons who, like Mbappé, made a thunderous entrance into Spanish soccer.

What’s Next for Mbappé?

Real Madrid is set to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup next month in the United States. They’ve been drawn into Group H, alongside Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal, Pachuca of Mexico, and Austrian champions RB Salzburg. It will be another opportunity for Mbappé to showcase his talent on the global stage and add another trophy to his growing list of honors. After a dream debut season in Spain, the French superstar will be eager to replicate his success on American soil.