Kylian Mbappe matched Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the Real Madrid striker hit an impressive landmark with a brace against Real Sociedad.
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Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0Mbappe scored both goals to take his tally to 31 Leads the race for the European Golden BootFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
While fans packed the Santiago Bernabeu to thanks Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric for their service and success at the club, Mbappe made sure he left his mark too. In the 38th minute, he capitalized on his own missed penalty by hammering in the rebound to break the deadlock. Seven minutes before full-time, Mbappe doubled his tally with a precise finish, ensuring Real walked away 2-0 winners. The goals ensure he's made history as the first ever Real Madrid player to score 30 plus goals in their debut season in LaLiga.
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With this brace, Mbappe became the first player since Messi to score at least 30 goals in a single La Liga season. The Frenchman also became the first Real Madrid player to achieve this feat since Ronaldo in the 2014-15 campaign, underlining his swift adaptation to the Spanish game. He now also leads Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 25 times this season, in the race for the prestigious Pichichi Trophy — awarded to La Liga’s top scorer.
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Mbappe also edged past Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres in the European Golden Shoe race, moving to 31 league goals for the campaign. The Portuguese forward has 58.5 points while the Real Madrid star finished with 62. Though Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah still has a slim chance to snatch the honour, needing four goals against Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season, the 2018 World Cup winner currently sits atop the leaderboard.
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Mbappe’s remarkable 31-goal haul places him in elite company. He is now only the fourth player in La Liga history to reach or exceed the 30-goal mark in his debut season. He joins Pruden (33 goals in 1940/41), Romário (30 goals in 1993/94), and Ronaldo Nazário (34 goals in 1996/97) — legendary forwards who announced their arrival in Spain with authority.