Cristiano Ronaldo vs Kylian Mbappe: How their debut seasons at Real Madrid measure up | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe’s first season at Real Madrid has been nothing short of remarkable. The French forward, who arrived at the club with high expectations, has been making his mark in a way that many had anticipated.

His performances so far have drawn comparisons to another superstar who once took the Spanish capital by storm—Cristiano Ronaldo.

In fact, Mbappe has managed to match Ronaldo’s goal tally from his debut season with the club, a feat that speaks volumes about his incredible talent and consistency.

A tale of Florentino Perez’s desire

When Mbappe scored twice in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Leganes last Saturday, he reached a significant milestone.

His two goals brought his tally to 33 goals for the season, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s total from his first campaign at the club.

This was a highly anticipated comparison, as both players were brought to Madrid with immense expectations and have quickly become key figures in the team.

Ronaldo was Florentino Perez’s Galactico signing. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Ronaldo made his move to Madrid in 2009 after years of speculation about a transfer. His arrival was seen as a statement of intent by club president Florentino Perez.

Similarly, Mbappe’s transfer to the Spanish giants was the culmination of years of desire from both the club and the player.

Both players were viewed as the marquee signings of their respective times at Madrid, and their debuts were met with much excitement from the club’s supporters.

The similarities between Mbappe and Ronaldo’s debut seasons don’t end with the number of goals.

In fact, their overall impact on the pitch has been strikingly similar, even though there are some key differences in how their respective first years have unfolded.

Key differences and insights into their first seasons

While both players reached 33 goals, the path they took to get there was slightly different. Ronaldo scored his 33 goals in just 35 matches, an astonishing rate of 0.94 goals per game.

Mbappe, on the other hand, has scored his goals in 45 matches, averaging 0.73 goals per game. This means that Ronaldo had a higher goal-scoring rate during his first season, but he also played fewer matches.

The Portuguese forward missed 13 games due to an ankle injury and suspensions, in addition to Real Madrid’s early exits from the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Mbappe has equalled Ronaldo’s goal tally from his debut season. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This meant that he had fewer opportunities to add to his tally compared to Mbappe, who has had more chances to play throughout the season.

Another area where the two differ is in their assists. While Ronaldo provided 10 assists in his debut season, Mbappe has recorded five at this stage, showing that while he has been a key player, he has yet to match the Portuguese’s playmaking abilities.

However, Mbappe has had his share of memorable moments. Notably, he scored two hat-tricks this season—one against Manchester City and another against Real Valladolid.

Ronaldo, by contrast, scored just one hat-trick in his debut season, against Mallorca. In terms of doubles, Ronaldo comes out on top with seven, while Mbappe has recorded four.

Despite these differences, it’s clear that Mbappe is on a similar trajectory to Ronaldo.

With more than 16 games left to play this season, including the potential for a Club World Cup appearance, Mbappe could very well surpass Ronaldo’s goal tally by the end of his first year.

Given his current form and the continued support of his teammates, it seems likely that Mbappe will only continue to improve as the season progresses.