Kylian Mbappe is on the brink of writing his name into Real Madrid’s history books, according to manager Xabi Alonso, who says the French forward is beginning to mirror the achievements of his childhood hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mbappe has been in outstanding form since joining the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. After finishing last season as Europe’s leading goalscorer, he has carried that momentum into the new campaign.
His tally for 2025 now stands at 55 goals, leaving him just four short of Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals scored in a single calendar year, set in 2013.
Spanish media have regularly compared Mbappe to Ronaldo, who remains Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer. Alonso believes the comparisons are now justified, given the influence the 25-year-old has on his teammates and the numbers he continues to produce.
“Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid like Cristiano did. Not just because of the importance he has in the team, but also because of the ambition he conveys and the number of goals he scores,” Alonso said during a press briefing.
“Kylian is one of the chosen ones. He has this desire within him not just to do things well, but also to have a positive influence on others. This is something he shares with Cristiano, this contagious ambition that inspires the rest of the team.”
Mbappe finished last season as the winner of the European Golden Shoe and La Liga’s top scorer with 31 goals. He has since stepped up another level, hitting 16 goals in 15 league matches and scoring nine times in five Champions League appearances this season.
As a youngster, Mbappe decorated his bedroom walls with Ronaldo posters. Now he is within reach of a landmark set by the player he idolised. He will have the chance to close the gap when Celta Vigo visit the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures also include a heavyweight Champions League meeting with Erling Haaland’s Manchester City on December 10, followed by league games against Alaves and Sevilla. That run gives Mbappe four matches to equal or surpass Ronaldo’s record.
Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 games during his time in the Spanish capital. Mbappe has delivered 69 goals in 79 appearances for Madrid.
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