Mbappé Takes Aim at Cristiano’s Champions League Records
Kylian Mbappé’s blistering start to the Champions League isn’t just eye-catching — it puts him on a direct collision course with the numbers set by Cristiano Ronaldo.
A brace that puts him among the greats
With his two goals in Real Madrid’s emphatic 6–1 win over AS Monaco, Kylian Mbappé moved to 11 goals in the current Champions League campaign. A tally that already places him in elite company — and one that matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for goals scored during the group stage, set in the 2015/16 season.
The French forward delivered a statement performance against his former club, underlining his immediate and decisive impact on Europe’s biggest stage.
Cristiano’s best season now in sight
Mbappé’s next personal challenge is even more ambitious. With 11 goals already to his name, the Real Madrid star now sits just six goals shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time best single-season Champions League return.
The Portuguese icon set the benchmark in 2013/14, scoring 17 goals — the highest total ever recorded in a single Champions League campaign since the competition adopted its modern format in 1992/93.
Records that still bear Cristiano’s name
Beyond that historic season, Cristiano Ronaldo dominates the competition’s scoring charts. He netted 16 goals in the 2015/16 campaign and added 15 more in 2017/18, a figure later matched by Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema.
Both, however, reached that mark in fewer games. Lewandowski scored 15 in 10 matches with Bayern Munich, while Benzema did so in 12 appearances for Real Madrid. Cristiano required 13 games.
Messi and Barcelona’s benchmark
The historical conversation also includes Lionel Messi. The Argentine recorded his best Champions League campaign in 2011/12, scoring 14 goals, still the highest tally ever achieved by a player for FC Barcelona.
Last season, Raphinha came close to matching that record but finished one goal short.
Efficiency that sets Mbappé apart
So far, Mbappé has scored 11 goals in just six matches, having featured in six of the seven league-phase fixtures in this Champions League edition. That return already ranks as the 17th-best scoring start in tournament history.
Another goal in his next European outing would push him into the top 10 all time, at least matching the 12 goals scored by Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United — a figure the Dutchman reached in nine matches.
Mbappé’s Champions League start has not only reinforced his importance at Real Madrid, but has also placed him squarely alongside the competition’s greatest goal scorers. With several matches still to play, the stage is set for the French forward to keep closing the gap — and potentially carve out his own place in Champions League history.
