Real Madrid won 5 stars in the Champions League: When Mbappe reached Ronaldo’s record
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.
Mbappe’s mark
Thibaut Courtois was the last cheer for his teammates at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadium. Real Madrid traveled more than 6,000 km to play their second match of the 2025/26 Champions League.
It took 15 minutes for their minds to leave the Metropolitano disaster and truly be in Central Asia. Satpaev headed in the penalty area in the 9th second. After just a minute and a half, Jorginho tried his luck with a long-range shot.
Mbappe led Real Madrid to victory. Photo: Diario AS
“Never forget. You have to keep thinking about what happened at the weekend, you have to work to improve and never have a night like that again,” Kylian Mbappe said after the match, in which he scored all three of his first goals in Kazakhstan.
Once the ball was at Mbappe’s feet, and Arda Guler was activated in the No. 10 position – the role Jude Bellingham (on the bench) occupied in the derby – the matter was settled.
Opponents Kairat Almaty started with enthusiasm but then looked too immature.
Real Madrid may still be in the process of building, as Xabi Alonso has repeatedly reminded them, but Mbappe has been fully integrated. He has scored 13 of the team’s 23 goals.
It is true that five goals came from the penalty spot, like the opening goal against Kairat, but it was two consecutive misses from 11m last season that caused the striker to fall into a crisis of form.
“When I have five chances, I have to score five goals. That is why Real Madrid chose me. This match, I can score more,” Mbappe said, referring to the situation of missing a golden opportunity when the score was 2-0.
Mbappe’s form is very impressive. Photo: Diario AS
Only when the French player completed his hat-trick and the match was considered over, did Alonso take him off. Camavinga and Brahim Diaz scored the remaining two goals.
In nine matches since the beginning of the season, Mbappe has only failed to score once – against Mallorca. He is like a “vending machine”.
Ronaldo version
“Kylian is too sharp in front of goal and we have to connect well to give him a chance,” Xabi Alonso stressed, praising his student.
Alonso did not hold back: “Mbappe decides almost every game. This time he proved it again. The goal in the derby was also really great.
We need his qualities to show. I am pleased with the positive influence Kylian has had on the team and the cohesion in the work.”
Once again, Alonso replaced Vinicius with Rodrygo in the second half, and the Brazilian star seemed unhappy as he passed the coach.
“It’s not a tantrum. On another day maybe… but not this game. His words are not the way you think. We understand each other,” Alonso explained in the press room.
Alonso doesn’t need to indulge Vinicius’s emotions, but enjoys Mbappe’s performance like Cristiano Ronaldo – the man he played with.
Mbappe is the author of Real Madrid’s first 5 goals in the Champions League this season.
Mbappe’s performance reminds of Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Diario AS
With 13 goals in 9 games, he has matched the start of his idol Ronaldo in the 2014/15 season. At that time, the Portuguese legend peaked with 61 goals in a single season with Real Madrid.
There have only been 2 cases in Real Madrid’s history that have surpassed this mark. Pruden scored 14 goals in the 1946/47 season. Five years earlier, in the 1941/42 season, Alday conquered the record of 15 goals in the first 9 games.
According to Opta, Mbappe scores every 60 minutes. Cristiano’s best performance was 76 minutes/goal in the 2014/15 season. 23.6% of the former PSG striker’s shots found the net.
“I will continue to improve and try to be more efficient in front of goal,” Mbappe emphasized.
