Mbappé: Ronaldo “still number one” at Madrid
Kylian Mbappé acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo as “still number one” at Real Madrid and described the club’s all-time leading scorer as a pivotal role model in an exclusive interview broadcast on Sunday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who joined Real Madrid ahead of the 2024-25 season, said Ronaldo has provided valuable advice as Mbappé aims to carve out his own legacy at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Ronaldo, who netted 450 goals over nine seasons at Madrid from 2009 to 2018 and secured 16 trophies including four Champions League titles, remains a benchmark figure for the club’s players and fans. Mbappé, who marked his debut Real Madrid season with 44 goals and has added 14 more this campaign, emphasized Ronaldo’s lasting influence.
“Cristiano has always been a role model for me,” Mbappé told Movistar. “I’m lucky enough to talk to him, he gives me advice, he’s helped me. I think in Madrid he’s still the number one. He’s the reference point for Real Madrid players, who’s done a lot. The fans still dream about Cristiano. But I want to follow my own path.”
Despite Mbappé’s prolific scoring, Real Madrid ended last season trophyless and currently lead La Liga by two points after eight games, despite a recent 5-2 defeat in the Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid. Reflecting on the derby loss, Mbappé assessed Real Madrid’s lack of intensity: “They came to play a derby, and us… we did too, but without putting any intensity into the duels, the crosses. They won all the duels. It’s hard to win a game like that.”
On the international stage, Mbappé scored in France’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan but was substituted late in the match due to an ankle injury, a recurrence of a knock sustained with Madrid the previous weekend. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Mbappé identified Spain as a formidable contender, describing them as “the best team in Europe right now,” while acknowledging the tournament’s unique challenges.
Mbappé also addressed speculation about his relationship with teammate Vinícius Júnior, a fellow left-sided forward at Madrid, saying, “Two famous players in the same team—that sells newspapers. But the truth is I have a very good relationship with Vinícius. It’s much better this year, because we know each other better.”
This endorsement of Ronaldo and candid reflection on his own position at Real Madrid highlight Mbappé’s ambition to build a distinguished career while respecting the legacy of one of football’s greatest figures. His evolving partnership with Vinícius and goal-scoring form will be critical to Madrid’s pursuit of domestic and European success in the coming seasons.