On his birthday at the Santiago Bernabéu, Mbappé converted a late penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Sevilla to reach 59 goals in the 2025 calendar year, equaling Ronaldo’s club record from 2013.

After sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, the French star sprinted to the corner and unleashed Ronaldo’s trademark leap and spin, complete with the famous shout that has become a global football signature.

Mbappé later explained that the celebration was a deliberate homage to a player he still describes as his “idol” and the best in Real Madrid’s history. He stressed that although he normally uses his own routine, this particular goal, on this particular night, had to be dedicated to Ronaldo because of their close relationship and the help he has given him in adapting to Madrid.

A respectful social media exchange

The tribute did not end on the pitch. A few hours after the final whistle, Mbappé posted on social media to mark his 59 goals and Real Madrid’s victory, tagging Ronaldo directly. The post featured a photo of his celebration and an old picture of their first meeting, accompanied by a short message urging fans to believe in their dreams and capped with a crown emoji.

Ronaldo’s response was brief but powerful in its symbolism. The Al Nassr star replied with fire and celebratory emojis, publicly acknowledging the tribute and igniting huge reactions from supporters of both forwards across platforms. The exchange underlined the mutual respect between a legend whose records defined an era and a successor now matching those numbers in the same white shirt.

Legacy, lineage, and the Real Madrid identity

Matching Ronaldo’s 59-goal benchmark places Mbappé in a tiny group of forwards whose output has reshaped expectations at Real Madrid, with only Lionel Messi having ever scored more for a European club in a single year. Doing so while openly paying tribute to the club’s all-time top scorer reinforces a sense of lineage rather than rivalry, suggesting Mbappé sees himself as continuing a tradition rather than erasing it.

For Madridistas, the sight of their new talisman celebrating like Ronaldo felt like a bridge between two dominant eras at the Bernabéu. For global football, Ronaldo’s warm reaction and Mbappé’s deference offered a rare moment where the conversation moved from comparisons and debates to shared admiration between two generational phenomena.