Kylian Mbappe marked his 27th birthday in dream fashion, tucking away a late penalty to not only seal a 2-0 La Liga win over Sevilla but to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s coveted Real Madrid calendar year goals record. The French superstar’s 86th minute spot kick at the Bernabeu was his 29th goal of 2024, drawing him level with the tally Ronaldo set back in 2013.
“It’s a special day because it’s my birthday,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV post match. “I always said it would be a dream to play in a game on my birthday and at Real Madrid, the club of my dreams.” The striker, who arrived from Paris Saint Germain last summer, added: “To do as Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid’s history and a world great, it’s an honour for me.”
The moment was pure theatre. After coolly converting the penalty, Mbappe spun and launched into Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ celebration, a clear nod to the man whose record he’d just equalled. “It was for him,” he explained. “Normally, I have my own, but I wanted to share that with him today. He was my idol as a kid; I have a very good relationship with him; he’s a friend now.”
Mbappe’s form has been the shining light in what’s been a patchy season for Xabi Alonso’s Real. While the team have struggled for consistency, their number nine has been relentless, bagging 29 goals in just 24 games across all competitions. He’s already top of the La Liga scoring charts this term with 18, following on from winning the European Golden Shoe and Pichichi trophy last season.
The connection to Ronaldo runs deep. Mbappe has long admitted to having posters of the Portuguese legend on his bedroom wall as a kid, and credited CR7 with advising him on his move to the Spanish capital. “He always spoke to me well about Madrid, how to adapt and everything,” Mbappe revealed.
With this latest milestone, Mbappe’s Bernabeu legacy continues to build at a frightening pace. He’s now on 73 goals in just 83 games for the club, a strike rate that’s starting to echo the numbers of the all time great he’s chasing. Ronaldo, of course, remains the club’s record scorer with 450 goals.
The win keeps Real in the thick of the title race, but the story of the night was personal for Mbappe. On his birthday, he didn’t just get three points, he grabbed a piece of history and paid tribute to his hero. Not a bad night’s work.
