December 20th marked Kylian Mbappé’s 27th birthday, and the French superstar celebrated the milestone by etching his name alongside his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the Real Madrid history books. With his latest strike, Mbappé now shares the record with Ronaldo for the most goals scored for the club in a single calendar year.
In Saturday night’s La Liga clash, Real Madrid secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sevilla. The defining moment came in the 86th minute when Mbappé converted a clinical penalty to double Madrid’s lead. This was his 59th goal of 2025, matching the tally set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. No player in the history of Europe’s most successful club has ever scored more in a single calendar year.
A Year of Total Dominance
Since joining Real Madrid in July 2024, 2025 marked Mbappé’s first full calendar year with the Los Blancos. His record-equaling 59 goals came across 58 appearances. His year was defined by consistency and clinical finishing:
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Braces: 11 matches with two goals.
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Hattricks: 4.
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First Half of 2025: 30 goals (January–May).
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Second Half of 2025: 29 goals (Current season).
Breaking down his tally by competition, Mbappé scored 18 goals in La Liga, 9 in the Champions League, and 2 in the Copa del Rey. Since Real Madrid has no remaining fixtures this year, the Frenchman finishes 2025 level with his “idol.”
“A Massive Honor”: Mbappé’s Reaction
Speaking after the match, an emotional Mbappé expressed his gratitude. “This record is incredible. In my first full year here, to achieve something similar to Cristiano—who is my idol—is a dream come true. He is the greatest player in Real Madrid’s history and a legend of world football. This is a massive honor for me.”
The timing made the achievement even more poignant. “It’s a special day because it’s my birthday,” Mbappé added. “Since I was a child, I’ve said that playing a professional match on my birthday was a dream. To do it for Real Madrid, the club of my dreams, makes it perfect.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
Real Madrid ends 2025 in second place in the La Liga standings, trailing leaders Barcelona by just one point (though Madrid has played one extra game). Carlo Ancelotti’s men will return to action on January 4, 2026, against Real Betis.
