Madrid – Kylian Mbappé equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record for goals scored in a calendar year, contributing to a 2-0 victory over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday. The win, propelled by a goal from Jude Bellingham, allows Real Madrid to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to a single point before Barcelona’s Sunday match against Villarreal. This performance comes as a minor relief for coach Xabi Alonso amid prior struggles.
The match at the Santiago Bernabéu saw Mbappé, celebrating his 27th birthday, reach 59 goals in 2025, matching Ronaldo’s feat from 2013. Bellingham opened the scoring with a first-half header, and Mbappé secured the win with a late penalty conversion. According to reports, the overall performance, while successful in securing three points, was not particularly dominant.
Mbappé Matches Ronaldo’s Goal-Scoring Record
Mbappé’s achievement is a significant milestone, recognizing his prolific form since joining Real Madrid. He stated his honor at equaling the record of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, and revealed a positive relationship with the Portuguese star. The penalty, converted in the latter stages of the match, was a key moment in solidifying the result.
Before the penalty, Mbappé had already come close to breaking the record, hitting the crossbar with a header and seeing a subsequent shot narrowly miss the target. Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos proved a tough opponent, making several crucial saves to deny the French forward throughout the game.
Match Dynamics and Controversy
The game wasn’t without its contentious moments. Several penalty calls were reviewed by VAR, with one initially awarded to Madrid ultimately being overturned. Despite the back-and-forth decisions, Sevilla continued to push for an equalizer, particularly in the second half, but were unable to find a way past Thibaut Courtois.
Sevilla’s efforts were hampered by a red card issued to defender Marcao in the 68th minute for a second bookable offense. Additionally, Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda was sent off at halftime for dissent, further disrupting the visiting team’s strategy. This La Liga clash was seen as crucial for both sides, with Real Madrid aiming to close the title race and Sevilla looking to build on their earlier upset victory against Barcelona.
While Real Madrid secured the three points, Courtois emphasized the need for overall improvement, stating the team’s goal is to raise its level and contend for trophies in 2026. A consistent high performance will be essential as they look to challenge for both domestic and Champions League titles.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Celta Vigo drew 0-0 with Real Oviedo, moving them to seventh place in the standings. Levante and Real Sociedad played to a 1-1 draw, while Osasuna delivered a convincing 3-0 victory over Alaves. These results highlight the competitive nature of the Spanish football league, with several teams vying for positioning as the season progresses.
Real Madrid will now use the winter break to analyze their current form and prepare for the challenges ahead in the new year. The team’s performance in January will be closely watched as they attempt to mount a serious title challenge and continue Mbappé’s impressive goal-scoring streak. The question remains whether they can consistently deliver the level of play needed to overtake Barcelona and ultimately secure the league championship.