The Frenchman has now scored 59 goals in a calendar year for the club to match the Portuguese’s record
Kylian Mbappe ended the year by equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record, after the forward converted a late penalty against Sevilla to reach 59 goals in the calendar year.
The France forward, playing on his 27th birthday, had looked like he would fail to match the record after missing from so many opportunities during the game. But with four minutes remaining at the Santiago Bernabeu, Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez brought down Rodrygo in the area and Mbappe calmly dispatched the resulting spot kick, sealing the points against a Sevilla side reduced to 10 men.
Mbappe then ran off and performed Ronaldo’s trademark “siu” celebration as a tribute to the former Real Madrid superstar.
“A special day,” Mbappe said. “We won the game, which was important – that was the objective. With the record, it’s incredible in my first year doing what Cristiano did, the best player in Real Madrid’s history, a role model in world football.
“It’s an honor for me. He’s always been affectionate to me, talking to me about Madrid and how to adapt. I’m very happy now to score goals for Real Madrid.”
