Kylian Mbappe equals Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid scoring record in controversial win | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti summed it up perfectly. Against Leganes on Saturday evening and for much of 2025 as a whole, Kylian Mbappe has been "making the difference" for Real Madrid.

The summer recruit opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend with a 32nd-minute penalty, but goals from Diego Garcia and Daniel Raba afforded Leganes a shock half-time lead in the capital. Jude Bellingham equalised for the hosts within two minutes of the restart before Mbappe added his second of the night to send Real Madrid level on points with Barcelona at La Liga's summit.

Mbappe's brace took him to 33 goals for Real Madrid across all competitions this season, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's tally during his debut campaign in Spanish football back in 2009/10. Only Ivan Zamorano - who scored 37 in 1992/93 - has ever boasted a more prolific opening season for Real Madrid.

"It's very special," Mbappe admitted after Saturday's victory. "The most important things are the things you do with the team, but to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good. We know what he represents for Real Madrid and for me. We always talk and he gives me a lot of advice. But as I always say, we have to win trophies."

The decisive goal, Mbappe's second and Madrid's third of the night, came from a free-kick on the edge of the Leganes box. The Frenchman - who has an infamously poor record from set pieces - nudged the ball to Fran Garcia before bending it over the wall.

It was another special moment for Mbappe, who revealed after the match that "we've been working on that free-kick with the coaching staff for a couple of weeks". But it was a hotly controversial incident for an away team adamant that Renato Tapia had not fouled Rodrygo.

Leganes boss Borja Jimenez stopped short of complaining about the referee, instead describing the controversial decision as "bad luck". "I hope the club does something about it," he warned.

A poll on the website of Marca, a Spanish publication which historically boasts readers who lean towards Real Madrid, hinted at the doubt behind the decision. Three-quarters of the 40,000 people surveyed claimed that Madrid should not have been awarded the free-kick which led to Mbappe's goal.

As ever, Ancelotti was unimpressed. "If Leganes are complaining," he huffed, "we can complain too."

Leganes would have the last word. As Europe prepared for the clocks to go forward to mark the start of spring on Sunday morning, the club's official social media account posted: "And on top of that, today they also steal an hour from us..."