Mbappé’s Journey at Real Madrid: Aiming for Greatness

omidbasir- Kylian Mbappé’s impressive goal tally still leaves him with a significant gap to close compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable record. During his nine illustrious years in Madrid, the Portuguese superstar netted an astounding 450 goals in just 438 appearances.

Ronaldo consistently surpassed the 40-goal mark in nearly every season at Real Madrid, achieving over 50 goals in four of those years. In contrast, Mbappé scored 44 goals in his inaugural season with Los Blancos and has already netted 38 goals in just 31 matches this current term, as he aims for major accolades in 2026.

Álvaro Arbeloa, currently serving as the interim manager at the Bernabéu, believes Mbappé should aspire to emulate Ronaldo’s achievements and leave a lasting legacy. After witnessing another stellar performance against Valencia, he stated, “We thought we wouldn’t see anything like Cristiano, but [Mbappé] is on track. Right now, he’s the best player in the world, without a doubt.”

He added, “What Cristiano did seemed otherworldly and impossible to replicate. Kylian has a long journey ahead of him since Cris was here for many years. However, Kylian possesses the qualities necessary to follow in his footsteps. If anyone can do it, it’s Kylian.”

Mbappé joined Real Madrid as a free agent in the summer of 2024, following the expiration of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 235 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo, upon witnessing Mbappé don the iconic No. 9 jersey at Madrid, advised fans, “Take care of him. Mbappé is very talented, and Real Madrid must support and protect him. I am confident that he will bring immense joy to the fans.”

Despite expressing admiration for Ronaldo, Mbappé stated he does not feel pressured to duplicate his legacy. He remarked, “I don’t feel the pressure. I don’t think about Cristiano, with all due respect to him. He is my idol, but I want to be Kylian. My only pressure comes from adapting to the team.”

As Mbappé strives to find his own identity at Madrid, Ronaldo has offered guidance based on his own experience. He suggested that confidence is crucial for success in Madrid and provided advice regarding Mbappé’s playing style: “The forward position complicates things for Kylian. It’s not that he doesn’t know how to play; it’s just not his natural position.”

Ronaldo continued, “If I were at Real Madrid, I would teach him to play as a central forward. I wasn’t a striker by trade but learned to play that role. Kylian shouldn’t be a conventional striker; he should adopt a playing style similar to mine.”

So far, Mbappé has secured the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid but is still pursuing his first domestic title. Currently, Arbeloa’s team sits just one point behind their Clasico rivals, Barcelona, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the La Liga season.