Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing record for the highest number of goals scored during the group stage of a single UEFA Champions League campaign.
The French superstar reached the milestone during Real Madrid’s emphatic 6-1 victory over AS Monaco at the Santiago Bernabeu, producing another outstanding performance against his former club.
Mbappe was at the heart of Madrid’s dominant display, scoring twice in the first half as Carlo Ancelotti’s side overwhelmed Monaco with pace, precision and attacking flair. His brace took his Champions League tally for the season to 11 goals, achieved in just six appearances for Los Blancos.
With those goals, the 27-year-old has now matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 11 goals set during the group stage of the 2015–16 Champions League campaign. No player in the history of the competition has ever scored more goals than Mbappe and Ronaldo at this stage of the tournament.
Mbappe opened the scoring just five minutes into the encounter, calmly finishing after being picked out by Federico Valverde inside the penalty area. He doubled his tally in the 26th minute, rising unmarked at the far post to head home a pinpoint cross from Vinicius Junior.
The French international has been in devastating form throughout the Champions League this season, consistently tormenting defences with his movement, speed and clinical finishing, while cementing his status as one of the competition’s most feared attackers.
Real Madrid will face Benfica in their final league-phase fixture, and Mbappe will have the opportunity to break the record outright in that match. Beyond that, he is also closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time mark of 17 goals in a single Champions League season, a feat that now appears within reach given his current form.
As the tournament progresses, Mbappe continues to etch his name deeper into Champions League history, drawing ever closer to the legendary standards set by his idol at the Bernabeu.
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