Expectations were immediately high when Kylian Mbapp arrived at Real Madrid, and as he reached the milestone of 100 games, comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo were increasing, but now they are almost inevitable.
Both players have left a huge mark on the club – and Kylian continues to do so – and both have achieved a major milestone after playing 100 games in the white shirt. How did each player’s journey unfold?
Real Madrid: Kylian vs Cristiano for the first time in 100 matches
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The truth is that Real Madrid’s poor performance since the former PSG player arrived has overshadowed the French forward’s achievements. It is claimed that the team only won the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup last season.
Ronaldo’s early years weren’t filled with trophies either, so Kylian can take some comfort in that regard. Real Madrid did not win anything in their debut season, but only won the Copa del Rey in their second year.
However, in terms of goals, Cristiano set a very high bar from the start with 95 goals (19 from penalties) and 8,160 minutes of playing time. Mbappu scored 85 goals (16 penalties) and provided 23 assists in 8,464 minutes, approximately 300 fewer minutes than CR7.
Mbapp has scored 55 goals in La Liga, 22 in the Champions League, four in the Copa del Rey, three in the Spanish Super Cup, and one each in the Club World Cup, Intercontinental Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Nevertheless, one area where Kylian stands out is his ability to influence different stages of an attack. Although his role at Real Madrid is more of a finisher than an assister, his overall contribution reflects a more versatile player compared to Cristiano in his early days at the club, having been involved in 108 goals.
Despite this, Real Madrid is coming off another unforgettable season after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich and in the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 against Albacete.
Despite being second in La Liga, Barcelona lead by 11 points and with the Clasico set for May 10, they either have to form a guard of honor or watch the title-clinching clash at the Camp Nou or risk ending their season in humiliation.
Mbappu, on the other hand, has had an exceptional statistical start, but comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo remain difficult. The Frenchman still has plenty of time to close the gap, but after 100 games the all-time leader still belongs to CR7.
