Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has stated that he never aimed to emulate Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. He downplayed any comparisons with the two football legends, emphasizing that they are “irreplaceable.”
Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid last summer, has already scored 30 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions in his debut season. With just two more goals, the former Monaco forward will surpass Ronaldo’s debut-season record of 33 goals, a tally the Portuguese icon shares with former Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, Mbappé clarified that he is not attempting to fill the shoes of these footballing greats. Speaking at a press conference while on international duty with France, he said, “I’m not trying to take their place. They are irreplaceable.”
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Following his 30th goal of the season, the 26-year-old remained humble, stating, “They’re legends who have defined an era. It’s important, but it’s all about numbers. If I score more goals than Ronaldo and Messi, it doesn’t mean I’m bigger, it just means my first season is going better.”
Messi has over 850 career goals, while Ronaldo holds the record as the all-time top scorer with over 920 goals.
