Mbappe Fires Back at Ronaldo's Challenge Following Golden Boot Triumph
Kylian Mbappé has shared his joy at securing his inaugural European Golden Boot while playing for Real Madrid, though he has rejected any notion that he aims to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's records and achievements at the club.
Following 31 strikes in 34 matches during his debut La Liga campaign, Mbappé received the European Golden Boot this week, recognizing him as Europe's leading scorer for the 2024–25 season based on a system that also considers the competitive level of each league.
This marked Mbappé's first such accolade, and the French forward hopes to collect more of these awards in the future. Nevertheless, matching Ronaldo, who claimed three of his four European Golden Boots during his Madrid tenure, is not explicitly part of his agenda.
"Everyone understands that Cristiano represents the standard at Madrid, he's number one," Mbappé shared with MARCA when questioned about potentially surpassing Ronaldo's achievements. "I've been at this club for eighteen months, while he spent nine years here. I cannot draw comparisons to his accomplishments; my journey is unique.
"I aim to create my own legacy, though being mentioned in the same breath as Cristiano is already an privilege. However, I'm solely concentrated on building my own path, supporting the squad, and claiming every possible trophy.
"From childhood, I've consistently fantasized about finding the net. Every youngster who begins playing football envisions scoring, doing so repeatedly. Ultimately, this is a significant recognition that brings me great joy, but everyone recognizes that collective success matters most.
"I aspire to claim another Golden Boot down the line, but primarily, I hope we secure the championship. If we're discussing why I earned the Golden Boot through my league performances, my objective this season is to maintain this momentum with the team. Should we capture the title and I earn another Golden Boot, my happiness will exceed what I feel today."
Mbappé: We're Beginning to Grasp Xabi Alonso's Methods
Mbappé appears positioned to claim a second straight Golden Boot after beginning the current campaign with 13 strikes across just 11 La Liga fixtures under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Alonso's managerial methods have allegedly caused frustration among several prominent Madrid squad members, particularly Vinicius Junior, yet Mbappé maintained that Madrid is progressing positively under their new leader.
"I've worked with numerous managers and I'm accustomed to each having their distinct philosophy and approach," he explained. "Xabi differs from [Carlo] Ancelotti; he possesses his unique working methods, and gradually we're comprehending his expectations.
"You can observe on the field that we've enhanced our play since the season's beginning, since the Club World Cup, though we still have areas for growth. We haven't secured any silverware yet, but we're performing well. We're heading in the correct direction and we aim to capture every available title."
When asked about his objectives for the 2025–26 season under Alonso, Mbappé declined to provide specific targets and instead stated he simply intends to push Madrid as far as achievable.
"You understand my nature," he chuckled. "As someone who competes, I desire to contend for everything. You cannot select just one objective. Certainly, it will be challenging, but I want to claim everything and give my maximum effort in every tournament. I won't choose just one.
"I never establish a numerical target as a boundary. My aim is to capitalize on every chance to score and assist the team. The more I find the net, the more trophies we can secure. My focus is always contributing to the squad, whether through goals or any other means that helps us succeed. That's what matters most, and I'll commit 100% to it."