Mbappe: Scoring more goals than Ronaldo doesn't make me bigger

Kylian Mbappé has dismissed any comparisons between himself and Cristiano Ronaldo, despite being on the verge of surpassing the Portuguese legend's goal tally in his debut season at Real Madrid.

After a quiet start to his time in Madrid, Mbappé has rediscovered his form, scoring 31 goals in all competitions. With at least 12 games remaining in the season, he is on track to surpass Ronaldo's debut season record of 33 goals. However, the French forward remains cautious about comparisons to the iconic forward.

"If I score more goals than Ronaldo, it doesn't mean that I am better, just that my first season is better," Mbappé stated. "Scoring goals is important, but it's even more significant if we win La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey."

Mbappé's brace in a 2-1 victory over Villarreal on 15 March 2025 pushed his tally further, ensuring three points for Madrid after conceding an early goal. While his goal-scoring feats have drawn attention, the 24-year-old is focused on collective success. "The adaptation period for me has ended, and now I have to show my quality. I want to make my mark on the season," he added.

Having already surpassed Brazil's Ronaldo's debut season total of 30 goals, Mbappé is now eyeing the all-time debut-season record of 37 goals set by Chile's Iván Zamorano in 1992-1993. Nevertheless, he downplayed the significance of such comparisons, remarking, "They are legends who marked eras with the club."

As of now, Mbappé's rich vein of form has helped Madrid to the top of La Liga, with a three-point lead over rivals Barcelona, though the latter have two games in hand.

However, not all moments were harmonious for the Frenchman in the Villarreal match. He was frustrated by Arda Güler, who chose not to pass to him for what could have been a third goal, which would have given Madrid a more comfortable lead. Villarreal had threatened to get back into the game, but goalkeeper Thibault Courtois was on hand to make nine crucial saves, ensuring the win.

Despite his impressive performances, Mbappé is still a long way from matching the remarkable numbers of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 422 goals, provided 116 assists, and won 14 major trophies during his time at the club. However, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Mbappé has the potential to reach those heights.

"He has the quality to reach Cristiano's numbers, but he has to work hard," Ancelotti stated. "Cristiano set the bar very high, but Mbappé is excited to play here, and he can certainly reach that level."