Kylian Mbappe Matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record with Late Penalty

In a stunning display of talent, Kylian Mbappe has tied Cristiano Ronaldo’s benchmark of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid. The French superstar achieved this milestone during his team’s 2-0 victory against Sevilla in La Liga, a game that coincidentally marked his 27th birthday.

Historic Achievement

Mbappe secured his record-equalling goal with a penalty shot just four minutes before the final whistle. Earlier in the match, he had missed several opportunities, but he demonstrated composure when it counted, converting the penalty to net his 59th goal across all competitions in 2025. This remarkable achievement now places him alongside Ronaldo’s prolific performance in 2013.

He added, “My idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid and a reference in world football. It’s an honor for me.”

Match Highlights

Real Madrid took an early lead in the match thanks to Jude Bellingham, who scored in the first half. Sevilla faced further challenges when their player, Marcao, was sent off for a second booking, reducing the visitors to ten men with 22 minutes left to play. Notably, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played a crucial role in ensuring Real Madrid maintained their advantage.

Currently ranked second in La Liga with 42 points, Real Madrid sits just one point behind Barcelona, while Sevilla is in ninth place with 20 points. Xabi Alonso’s team aimed to conclude the year on a high note after having lost their top position in November due to three consecutive draws. They ended 2025 with three wins in a row across all competitions, albeit not without some challenges along the way.

Fighting for Victory

Sevilla generated significant pressure early in the match. Isaac Romero nearly scored with a chip that skimmed past the post. Real found it difficult to create clear chances as Mbappe snapped a close attempt wide. The visitors had their own near misses, but Real finally broke the deadlock seven minutes before halftime.

Rodrygo delivered a well-placed free kick, allowing Bellingham to rise and power a header into the far corner, alleviating some of the tension for the hosts as they went into the break.

Close Calls and Celebrations

Despite a strong performance, Mbappe found himself frustrated at times, including an effort straight at the goalkeeper and another that went wide. Meanwhile, Courtois was instrumental in fending off opportunities from Alexis Sanchez and Romero, keeping Real Madrid in the lead.

Following Marcao’s expulsion, Rodrygo made an exceptional attempt that narrowly missed after being deflected onto the crossbar by Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos. As the match wore on, Real Madrid found themselves under pressure, but when Juanlu Sanchez fouled Rodrygo in the box, Mbappe stepped up to take the penalty and scored, signaling his equal footing with Ronaldo as he performed a tribute celebration.

“I wanted to give him a little nod because he has always been affectionate with me,” Mbappe shared. “Normally, I have my own celebration, but I wanted to share that with him. He’s been my idol since I was a kid, and now he’s a friend.”

In a twist of fate, Mbappe thought he would have another chance to score just moments later when a second foul was called, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned. Despite the disappointment, he gladly settled for sharing the record with Ronaldo.

Conclusion

Kylian Mbappe’s performance not only highlights his individual talent but also cements his status in Real Madrid history alongside one of football’s greats. As he celebrates this milestone, the football world eagerly anticipates what’s next for this extraordinary player.