Kylian Mbappé (27, Real Madrid) tied Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al Nassr) for Real Madrid's single-year most goals in the institutional sector.
Mbappé scored from a penalty kick awarded in the 41st minute of the second half, after an opposing player was sent off and Real Madrid led 1-0, in the 18th-round home match against Sevilla at Santiago Bernabéu on Dec. 21 in the 2025-26 Spanish Primera División. He led the team to a 2-0 victory.
With 59 goals in official matches in 2025, he matched the single-year most goals record for Real Madrid set by Ronaldo in 2013.
Mbappé, as the penalty kick taker after Rodrigo won the penalty in the 41st minute of the second half, converted the kick while an opposing player had been sent off and his team was leading 1-0.
Dec. 21, when the Sevilla match was held, was Mbappé's 27th birthday. On the meaningful day he set the same record as his "idol" Ronaldo.
In a postgame interview with Real Madrid TV, Mbappé said, "Playing on my birthday has always been a dream. I achieved that dream at Real Madrid," and added, "The record set today is also really special."
He also said, "Ronaldo is the greatest player in Real Madrid's history and my idol. It is an honor to have set the same record he achieved."
Ronaldo recorded 59 goals in 50 matches for Real Madrid in 2013, including seven hat tricks.
Mbappé needed nine more matches than Ronaldo to reach Ronaldo's 59 goals. He has two fewer hat tricks than Ronaldo.
By age 27, Mbappé leads in cumulative career attacking points.
At 27, Ronaldo had 272 goals and 106 assists in 531 matches, totaling 378 attacking points. Mbappé recorded 410 goals and 176 assists in 544 matches, totaling 586 attacking points.
Immediately after scoring in the Sevilla match, Mbappé performed Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebration and said, "I wanted to greet him. Ronaldo has always been kind to me," adding, "He also advised me on how to adapt to Madrid. We still maintain a good relationship."
With the victory, Real Madrid (42 points) succeeded in closing in on league leader Barcelona (43 points).<
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