Kylian Mbappe thrilled to match Cristiano, Ronaldo and Benzema in historic Real Madrid feat | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe was delighted to join the ranks of Real Madrid legends who have scored a hat-trick in a Champions League knockout game.

His three goals led Real to a 3-1 statement win over Premier League champions Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu, sealing a 6-3 victory on aggregate.

The 26-year-old Frenchman, who is enjoying a fruitful first season in Madrid, joined Ronaldo Nazário, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema with this achievement.

“Oh, those three are legends,” Mbappe said. “The names you mention are players who have marked an era at Real Madrid. I hope I can also leave a mark here, and that’s why I am here.

“But let’s take it step by step. The first step is now; we’re in the round of 16, and we’re going to play to win every possible title this season. We know what we need to do to win.

“All the players who wear the Real Madrid jersey are leaders. For me, all the players here are the best, and it’s a pleasure to share the stadium with them.”

Mbappe is enjoying his first season in the Spanish capital, scoring 27 goals in 37 matches across all competitions so far this season.

He was subbed off the pitch in the 78th minute to an ovation at the Bernabeu with fans singing his name, a contrast to earlier rounds where fans had been booing sub-par performances.

“It’s a pleasure [to hear fans singing your name], it really is,” Mbappe added. “It doesn’t change where I want to go with the team; it doesn’t change the effort I have to make every day. But it is certainly a pleasure when the fans are happy with your work. You can see that you’re doing things right, and you have to keep going.

“It’s good to be in good form, but you have to keep playing better every game because at Real Madrid, it’s easy to play well every month, but the most important thing is to play well every season.

“People can boo; it’s not a lack of respect to boo and show that they are not happy. People were not happy with our performance, and it’s our job to change that situation. I thought that with a performance like this tonight, we could help change the situation.”

When asked whether he had a preference between facing Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round, Mbappe pointed towards his Madrid rivals.

“Because there’s no travel,” he explained. “Both matches are tough so when both are difficult, you have to manage other things and we travel a lot.

“It’s better to be 20 minutes away, and it will be a difficult match. Both teams are good, and we’ll fight to win.”