Mbappe: 'I dedicate this special goal to Ronaldo'

Striker Kylian Mbappe expressed deep emotions, stating that he dedicates his latest goal to his senior and idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kylian Mbappe delivered an impressive performance at Santiago Bernabeu when he helped Real Madrid secure a 2-0 victory over Sevilla, while also matching the calendar-year scoring record set by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. With a penalty goal in the final minutes, the French forward reached 59 goals in 2025, equaling the record Ronaldo established in 2013.

This season, Mbappe has scored 18 goals in La Liga, leading the top scorer race. Across all competitions, the former PSG star has totaled 28 goals along with 4 assists. He remains Real Madrid’s leading scorer in the 2025/26 campaign.

After the match, Mbappe showed his emotions and gave special thanks to his idol. According to Mbappe, Ronaldo played a crucial role in helping him adapt to life at Real Madrid incredibly fast: "Cristiano Ronaldo helped me adjust to Real Madrid. We talked a lot. It was amazing. I have my own celebration style, but I want to dedicate this goal to him."

The French striker also sent his best wishes to CR7 for Christmas and the upcoming New Year 2026: "Do I celebrate like Ronaldo? Yes, my celebration is dedicated to him. To me, Ronaldo is both a friend and a hero."

The win against Sevilla was significant for Real Madrid in the 2025/26 La Liga title race. The 3 points helped coach Xabi Alonso’s team temporarily reduce the gap to league leaders Barcelona to just 1 point (though having played one more match), while also easing the pressure after a series of disappointing results earlier.

Speaking about the match, coach Xabi Alonso admitted Real Madrid had not yet reached their best form despite the victory over Sevilla: "We know exactly where we stand right now. Real Madrid must seriously acknowledge that we need to play better. This is not the true level of Real Madrid and the whole team can definitely improve. Given the current context, the important thing now is to keep progressing."