Standing alongside Messi and Ronaldo, Mbappe sets a unique record

Following his two goals against Villarreal that helped Real Madrid win, Kylian Mbappe has cemented his place among LaLiga’s legendary figures, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kylian Mbappe continued to shine brightly, playing a crucial role in Real Madrid’s 2-0 triumph over Villarreal to rise to the top of LaLiga. The French striker’s brace not only reinforced his lead in this season’s top scorer chart but also placed him among the few elite scorers in the league’s history, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to statistics from expert MisterChip, Mbappe became the sixth player to score 20 or more goals within the first 21 rounds of a LaLiga season. Before him, only renowned names like Messi, Ronaldo, Hans Krankl, Baltazar, Hugo Sanchez, and Salva Ballesta achieved this feat. Notably, Messi and Ronaldo are the only two to reach this milestone multiple times, each accomplishing it five times during their spells at Barcelona and Real Madrid, underscoring their special status in Spanish football history.

Beyond his goal tally, Mbappe also reached a personal milestone at Real Madrid. With his Panenka-style penalty in the second half, he became the first player in the royal club to score two penalties in this manner in a single LaLiga season since Sergio Ramos did so in 2018/19.

Real Madrid traveled to Estadio de la Ceramica aiming to secure all three points to claim the top spot, and Mbappe executed this mission flawlessly. This victory brought Los Blancos to 51 points, temporarily two points ahead of Barcelona. However, the title race remains intense as Barcelona will play in round 21 against Real Oviedo, expected to win and reclaim the lead.

Next, Real Madrid will shift focus to the Champions League with an away match against Benfica. This presents an opportunity for Mbappe to break another record held by Cristiano Ronaldo. After his brace against Monaco, Mbappe has scored 11 goals in just six group stage matches, matching Ronaldo’s record from the 2015/16 season. If he continues scoring in Portugal, Mbappe will become the highest scorer in the Champions League group stage, further writing a new chapter in his career.