Carlo Ancelotti has expressed confidence in Kylian Mbappe’s ability to make a lasting impact at Real Madrid, comparing him to the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo after the French forward’s brilliant hat-trick against Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Mbappe, who initially struggled to settle in at Madrid, has been in scintillating form in 2025, with his performance against City signaling his potential to become a key figure at the club.
When asked to compare Mbappe to Ronaldo, Ancelotti praised the young forward’s talent but acknowledged the high bar set by Ronaldo. “Mbappe has a lot of quality and can match Cristiano, yes, but Cristiano set the bar very high,” Ancelotti remarked. “Mbappe is just starting out at Madrid, and while it won’t be easy to reach Ronaldo’s level, he’s eager and has to keep working hard.”
The coach also emphasized that Madrid’s success is driven by collective effort, not just individual brilliance, despite the standout performances of players like Mbappe.
Mbappe has now scored 27 goals in 37 games for Madrid, putting him on track to surpass Ronaldo’s tally of 33 goals in his debut season (2009/10).
At 26, Mbappe is just a year older than Ronaldo was during his first season at the club, and while Ronaldo ultimately scored 450 goals in his nine years at Madrid, Mbappe has the potential to leave a similar legacy if he continues his current form.
To match Ronaldo’s incredible feat, Mbappe would need to maintain an average of 50 goals per season and stay at Madrid until he’s 34.
