Kylian Mbappé Is on Track to Break Another Cristiano Ronaldo Record With Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé is not hiding: he is going straight after Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record. Despite Real Madrid’s defeat in Lisbon, the Frenchman scored a brace, took on the leadership role and moved to within just four goals of the historic mark.

Mbappé leads Madrid even in defeat

The night in Lisbon brought a painful defeat for Real Madrid, but also an impossible truth to ignore: Kylian Mbappé is the team’s absolute leader. At the Estádio da Luz, Los Blancos fell 4–2 to José Mourinho’s Benfica, missing out on a Top 8 finish in the UEFA Champions League league phase by just one point. Still, while the collective struggled, the No. 10 stepped up.

Over the full 90 minutes, Mbappé never stopped pushing. He scored a brace, drove his team forward when answers were hard to find and once again proved decisive on the scoreboard.

A complete performance against Benfica

The Frenchman struck first. After half an hour of Portuguese dominance, Madrid punished Benfica with their first clear chance: a perfectly weighted cross from Raúl Asencio and an impeccable header from Mbappé for 0–1. The script looked favorable, but Benfica responded with authority and turned the game around before halftime.

Far from disappearing, Mbappé stepped up again in the second half. With the score at 3–1, the French star pulled one back after a cross from Arda Güler, controlling inside the box and finishing with an unstoppable low shot.

Mbappé goes all-in for Cristiano Ronaldo’s record

Beyond the result, the night delivered history. With his two goals, Mbappé reached 13 goals in this Champions League campaign, placing him just four goals away from Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time single-season record (17).

According to official competition data, the Frenchman has scored 13 goals in eight matches, matching CR7’s most prolific Champions League start with Real Madrid. In the 2013–14 season, the Portuguese star finished with 17 goals and lifted La Décima. Today, Mbappé is on course to challenge that legacy.

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Disaster at Da Luz: Madrid forced into the playoff

The road to history still has obstacles

Real Madrid will now have to navigate the playoffs to stay alive in Europe, with Benfica or Bodo/Glimt as potential opponents. If Los Blancos reach the final, Mbappé could play up to nine more matches, a real window to equal or surpass Cristiano’s mark.

So far this season, the Frenchman has scored 36 goals in 29 official matches for Madrid and is enjoying his best run of form. In his last four appearances, he has found the net seven times. A constant threat… and a fierce competitor.