Since his debut against Bayer Leverkusen on September 27, 2016, Kylian Mbappé has needed just 81 matches to become the eighth top scorer in Champions League history, surpassing legends such as Thierry Henry (50 goals), Zlatan Ibrahimović (48 goals), and Andriy Shevchenko (48 goals).

Mbappé's Journey in the Champions League

In total, after his latest goal against Red Bull Salzburg, he has scored 51 goals. Just five fewer than the next opponents ahead of him: Thomas Müller (56) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy (56). Three of these goals have been with Real Madrid (2024-present), 42 with PSG (2017-2024), and six with Monaco (2016-2017).

Mbappé’s First Goal in the Champions League: A Memory at the Etihad Stadium

At 25 years old, everything suggests that he will soon surpass them. A challenge he wants to begin tonight against Manchester City... and at the Etihad Stadium, where he started collecting his first major memory in the Champions League.

Just a few months after his first match against Bayer Leverkusen, Mbappé scored his first goal in the European Cup at Manchester City's stadium while still playing for Monaco. A very special goal, as it made him the youngest player to score in a knockout match. A record that, to this day, no one has been able to break.

That season, he was the star player who led Monaco to the semifinals against Juventus. A round that Monaco hadn’t reached since they made it to the final against Porto in 2004. A milestone that caught the attention of Europe's best teams and allowed him to sign with PSG that same summer.

Mbappé’s Challenge: To Conquer the Champions League

After winning the World Cup with France at just 18 years old, Mbappé’s ultimate dream is to win the Champions League. He has come close several times. In the 2016/17 season, he reached the semifinals with Monaco. He also reached the semifinals with PSG in 2020/21 and 2023/24, as well as the final against Bayern Munich in 2019/20.

Tonight, therefore, he will try to do everything possible to score another goal against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and help Real Madrid secure a good result for the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.