Kylian Mbappehas equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record for goals in a debut season at the club.
Image: EPA
France striker Kylian Mbappe is on course to shatter the record for goals scored in a debut season for Real Madrid.
He equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's 33-goal first-season haul for Los Blancos in 2009/10 with a brace in the 3-2 victory over Leganes at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
The France international made the breakthrough with a Panenka from the penalty spot, before scoring a well-worked free-kick to secure a vital three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Spanish capital.
The lethal marksman has now set his sights on Ivan Zamarano's top tally of 37 goals in 45 matches during his first season for Real Madrid in 1992/93.
Madrid’s win drew them level on 63 points with Barcelona from 29 La Liga matches but they had played one game more. The Catalan giants were due to face Girona on Sunday. Despite a slow start to the season after his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe’s recent form has drawn praise from coach Ancelotti.
"He’s making the difference, and that’s what we want from him,” Ancelotti said, adding that Mbappe has the potential to live up to Ronaldo’s legacy at the club.
"He is much more active and involved in the game. He has adapted very well and is making a difference. That's what we want from him. He tried the free-kick yesterday and it went well. He was very effective. We put our trust in him today," Ancelotti said, after the comeback win over Leganes.
The speedster was thrilled to equal Ronaldo’s goal tally.
The forward is now second on the list of top goalscorers in a debut season for Los Blancos with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy ahead of Ronaldo. The Brazilian scored 30 times in his first season for the capital giants.
"It's very special ... to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good,” he said. "We know what he means for Real Madrid and for me personally; we speak, and he gives me a lot of advice."
But his ultimate goal is to win the biggest prizes in European football that eluded him as part of a star-studded, but often underperforming PSG side. In that regard has a long way to go to match the achievements of the club legend.
Ronaldo netted 451 times in 438 competitive appearances with Real Madrid. His club honours include four Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, three Club World Cup gongs and two Copas del Rey.
With his second goal of the night, Mbappe moved closer to La Liga's top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, trailing the Barca striker by just one goal.