Kylian Mbappé is on the verge of etching his name into Real Madrid history, with manager Xabi Alonso suggesting the French striker is beginning to emulate the feats of his childhood hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Since joining the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, Mbappé has been in sensational form. After finishing last season as Europe’s top scorer, he has carried that momentum into the 2025 campaign.

Mbappé has already netted 55 goals this year, just four shy of Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a single calendar year, set in 2013. Spanish media have long drawn comparisons between the two, and Alonso believes Mbappé’s influence and productivity now fully justify them.

“Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid like Cristiano did,” Alonso said at a press briefing. “Not just because of the importance he has in the team, but also because of the ambition he conveys and the number of goals he scores. He has this desire not only to perform, but to inspire his teammates—a trait he shares with Cristiano.”

Mbappé claimed the European Golden Shoe and La Liga’s top scorer award last season with 31 goals. This term, he has already scored 16 goals in 15 league matches and added nine goals in five Champions League appearances.

As a boy, Mbappé adorned his bedroom walls with Ronaldo posters. Now, he stands on the brink of surpassing a record set by the player who inspired him. He will have the first opportunity to close the gap when Celta Vigo visit the Bernabéu on Sunday.

Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures also include a high-profile Champions League clash against Erling Haaland’s Manchester City on December 10, followed by La Liga matches against Alavés and Sevilla. These four games present Mbappé with the chance to equal or even surpass Ronaldo’s single-year goal record.

For context, Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 appearances during his Real Madrid tenure, while Mbappé has already amassed 69 goals in 79 matches for the club.