Mbappé Equals Ronaldo’s Real Madrid Record on Birthday Milestone

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Kylian Mbappé marked his 27th birthday in unforgettable fashion, scoring a late penalty to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 LaLiga victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The French superstar, who has long idolized Ronaldo, converted an 86th-minute spot-kick to reach the landmark set by the Portuguese legend in 2013.

In a touching tribute, Mbappé celebrated by performing Ronaldo’s iconic “Siu” jump, drawing roars from the Bernabéu crowd.

During a Post-match, Mbappé shared heartfelt words: “Today is a special day, the record is incredible, I have equaled my idol CRISTIANO RONALDO, the best player of Real Madrid, today the celebration was for him, for my friend and my idol. He helped me a lot.”

Jude Bellingham had opened the scoring with a 38th-minute header from Rodrygo’s free-kick, but Real labored against a resilient Sevilla side reduced to 10 men late on. Mbappé, despite missing earlier chances, delivered when it mattered most, sending goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos the wrong way from the penalty spot.

A potential second penalty was overturned by VAR, denying Mbappé the chance to break the record outright in Real’s final match of 2025.

The achievement is remarkable in Mbappé’s first full calendar year at the club, following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.

Ronaldo’s 59 goals in 2013 remained untouched for over a decade, underscoring the magnitude of the Frenchman’s prolific form under coach Xabi Alonso.

Mbappé’s tally includes dominant performances across LaLiga, the Champions League, and domestic cups, cementing his status as one of the world’s elite forwards.

His admiration for Ronaldo-Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer, has been well-documented, with the pair maintaining a close relationship.

As Real Madrid close out 2025 with three consecutive wins, Mbappé’s milestone provides a bright note amid scrutiny over the team’s consistency.