Madrid, Dec 22: Kylian Mbappe marked his 27th birthday by equalling a Real Madrid club record, scoring his 59th goal of the calendar year as the Spanish giants beat 10-man Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in its final match of 2025.
The France forward converted a late penalty to seal the win and match the tally set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013, ensuring the milestone did not slip away after threatening to do so for much of the contest. Mbappe calmly dispatched the spot kick with four minutes remaining after Juanlu Sánchez fouled Rodrygo inside the area.
Mbappe celebrated with a restrained version of Ronaldo’s iconic leap-and-thrust celebration before blowing a kiss towards the television cameras. The former Paris Saint-Germain striker has now scored 29 goals this season for Madrid, including a league-leading 18 in La Liga.
“It’s incredible, in my first full year, to do what Cristiano did,” Mbappe said. “He’s my idol and the best player in the history of Real Madrid. My celebration was for him.”