Kylian Mbappé marked his 27th birthday with a historic milestone as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu to maintain pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona.
The French forward converted a late penalty to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid, a landmark first achieved by the Portuguese great in 2013. Earlier, Jude Bellingham’s first-half header had given Carlo Ancelotti’s side a deserved lead in a match that proved more testing than the scoreline suggests.
Real dominated possession from the outset, probing Sevilla’s defensive shape with patience and control. The breakthrough arrived seven minutes before half-time when Rodrygo swung in a teasing free-kick from the right. Bellingham timed his run perfectly, rising above Lucien Agoumé to glance a header into the top corner, sending the Bernabéu into celebration.
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Sevilla, however, refused to fold. Isaac Romero caused problems on the counter-attack, twice finding space behind Real’s back line early in the second half. On both occasions, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced crucial saves to preserve Madrid’s advantage and underline his importance in tight contests.
The balance of the game shifted decisively in the 68th minute when Sevilla defender Marcão was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Bellingham. Reduced to ten men, the visitors struggled to contain Real’s attacking depth, although Mbappé himself endured a frustrating evening for long spells.
Before his decisive moment, the former Paris St-Germain forward had failed to register a shot on target in the first half and saw an effort straight at Odysseas Vlachodimos shortly after the restart. He later curled a shot just wide from a tight angle and headed against the crossbar, as the Bernabéu waited for the moment that would etch his name alongside club legend Ronaldo.
That moment arrived in the 86th minute. Rodrygo was clumsily fouled in the penalty area by Juanlu Sánchez, and Mbappé stepped up with trademark composure. He sent Vlachodimos the wrong way from the spot, wheeling away to perform Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ celebration in tribute to his childhood idol.
“It’s a special day because it’s my birthday,” Mbappé said afterwards. “To play and score for Real Madrid, the club of my dreams, is incredible. To do what Cristiano did, my idol and the best player in Real Madrid’s history, is an honour.”
Real were briefly awarded a second penalty late on when Bellingham went down in the area, raising the prospect of Mbappé breaking Ronaldo’s record outright. However, Video Assistant Referee intervention overturned the decision, ensuring the record remains shared for now.
While Ronaldo reached his 59-goal tally in 50 games during 2013, Mbappé required 59 matches to reach the same mark, with fewer hat-tricks and assists. Yet, his overall career numbers at the same age compare favourably, underlining the scale of his achievement and his long-term potential at the Bernabéu.
Beyond the individual milestone, the victory keeps Real firmly in the title race. With Barcelona still setting the pace, Ancelotti’s side know that consistency will be vital in the months ahead.
For Mbappé, this night was about more than statistics. It was a symbolic passing of a milestone, a tribute to a legend, and another statement of intent from a player determined to carve his own chapter in Real Madrid’s illustrious history.
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