Xabi Alonso remarked that Kylian Mbappé is “on the path to making history at Real Madrid” as the talented forward approaches Cristiano Ronaldo‘s record for the most goals scored by a club in a calendar year.
With his brace during Madrid’s 3-0 victory in LaLiga against Athletic Club on Wednesday, Mbappé tallied 55 goals for the club in 2025, just four short of Ronaldo’s 59-goal milestone set in 2013.
Real Madrid has four matches remaining this year, commencing with a home game against Celta Vigo at the Bernabéu on Sunday.
Alonso stated during a news conference on Saturday, “Kylian is on his way to creating history at Real Madrid, similar to what Cristiano achieved. His ambition and statistics place him among the elite.”
He added, “It’s wonderful to work with him every day. His eagerness to impact others and his infectious energy remind me of Cristiano; I see similarities between them.”
When asked who he would choose between Mbappé and his former teammate Ronaldo, Alonso declined to make a decision. “Cristiano is Cristiano, and Kylian is Kylian,” he remarked. “Both are extraordinary. We’re fortunate to have Kylian, and we need to maximize his presence.”
As the weekend approached, Madrid was just one point behind rivals Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga standings.
They head into the match against Celta without a specialist right-back, as Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Dani Carvajal on the sidelines due to long-term injuries. Midfielder Fede Valverde is expected to step in to cover.
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Alonso stated, “We need to evaluate our options, but there are alternatives available. Fede always prioritizes the team… He’s had impressive performances against teams like Barça and Juve. He’s selfless and eager to contribute.”
The victory over Athletic Club eased some pressure on Alonso following consecutive draws in Madrid’s last three league matches.
Alonso reflected, “It was a solid performance, an all-around good game. Now we’re aiming for consistency, as we need to be in the right position by April or May.”