Kylian Mbappe rejects Cristiano Ronaldo comparison as he closes in on debut Real Madrid season record
Yesterday at 12:36 PM
Kylian Mbappe is closing in on surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut season at Real Madrid.
However, the French forward has brushed off comparisons with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Mbappe took his tally for the season to 30 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions on Saturday.
His brace at Villarreal helped secure a 2-1 victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as his fine debut campaign continues.
It also saw Mbappe move past Ronaldo Nazario’s record in his first season in the Spanish capital.
After signing from Inter Milan in 2002, Ronaldo scored 29 goals in 43 matches.
His strikes also helped Los Blancos win the La Liga title, finishing the season two points ahead of Real Sociedad.
Meanwhile, Mbappe is now just three goals shy of the Portuguese’s maiden campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking to the club’s media channels after their latest win, the 26-year-old was asked about surpassing the Brazilian and closing in on Ronaldo’s tally.
However, Mbappe remained humble, explaining: "They’re legends who have defined an era. It’s important, but it’s all about numbers.
“If I score more goals than Ronaldo and Cristiano, it doesn’t mean I’m bigger, it just means my first season is going better.
“The important thing is to help and win titles. Scoring goals is important, but even more so if we win La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.”
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a then world record fee from Manchester United in 2009.
He went on to score 33 times in 35 appearances during the following season.
The campaign would end without silverware, though, as Real finished three points adrift of bitter rivals Barcelona.
Mbappe, meanwhile, still has the chance to win an historic treble this term as well as surpassing Ronaldo’s record.
Despite winning 15 European crowns, Real have yet to win the treble in a single season during their 123-year history.
Following their win over Villarreal, the league leaders sit three points clear of Barca with 10 matches remaining.
However, the Blaugrana have played two matches less than their title rivals.
Real are also ahead in their Copa del Rey semi-final tie, leading Real Sociedad 1-0 ahead of next month’s second leg at home.
As for their Champions League campaign, they will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals in April after beating Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The winner of the tie will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa in the semi-finals.
