Football
16-May-2025

Kylian Mbappe vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Who Hit 40 Goals Faster for Real Madrid?

by Ashuti Pandey

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Kylian Mbappé continued his impressive debut season with Real Madrid by scoring the equaliser in a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Mallorca in LaLiga—his 40th goal of the campaign. That strike not only sealed the victory but also delayed Barcelona’s hopes of clinching the league title.

Mbappé's rapid scoring run has naturally drawn comparisons to his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived at Madrid after already winning the Champions League and a Ballon d’Or under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Expectations were sky-high, but Ronaldo delivered immediately, scoring at a blistering pace.

Over his nine seasons in the Spanish capital, the Portuguese icon averaged more than a goal per game, became Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer, and added four Champions League titles to his name.

While Mbappé has yet to lift the Champions League trophy or claim a Ballon d’Or, his résumé is already remarkable. He played a starring role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph and came agonizingly close to repeating the feat in 2022, scoring a hat-trick in the final before losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

The comparison between Mbappé and Ronaldo is inevitable—but so far, the French star is living up to the legacy he's trying to follow.

With 40 goals in his first 54 appearances across all competitions, Real Madrid’s newest Galáctico has wasted no time making his mark at the Bernabéu. He shattered the club’s record for most goals in a debut season with a stunning hat-trick during their thrilling 4-3 defeat to Barcelona over the weekend.

Mbappé’s first season in Spain has unfortunately ended without any silverware—much like Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut campaign.

While Mbappé’s goal-scoring output is undeniable, manager Carlo Ancelotti has struggled to build a truly cohesive unit around the French star. Following their LaLiga and Champions League triumphs the previous season, the team appears to have taken a step backward.

Back in October 2010, Ronaldo made his 46th appearance for Real Madrid and scored four goals in a 6-1 demolition of Racing Santander, quickly boosting his tally to 43 goals. Although Mbappé has now surpassed Ronaldo’s debut-season total of 33 goals, Ronaldo reached the 40-goal mark in fewer appearances.