Kylian Mbappe has reached 90 appearances for Real Madrid — and the numbers are wild.
But when you line them up next to Cristiano Ronaldo’s first 90 games at the Bernabéu, the comparison tells a story that’s uncomfortable for anyone rushing to crown Mbappe as Madrid’s next GOAT.
Yes, Mbappe has been phenomenal.
No, he hasn’t matched Ronaldo.
Not yet.
Mbappe’s Real Madrid Numbers After 90 Games
On the surface, Mbappe’s output looks ridiculous:
- Games: 90
- Goals: 82
- Assists: 10
- Goal contributions: 92
- Minutes per goal contribution: 80.5
- Penalty goals: 19 (23% of total goals)
This season alone, Mbappe has:
- 38 goals in 31 games
- Outscored every teammate by a massive margin
- Carried Madrid’s attack through long stretches of poor team form
From watching Madrid week to week, it’s obvious:
Mbappe is the system right now. Without him, Madrid look blunt.
Ronaldo’s Real Madrid Numbers After 90 Games
Now here’s where the reality check hits:
- Games: 90
- Goals: 86
- Assists: 24
- Goal contributions: 110
- Minutes per goal contribution: 69.3
- Penalty goals: 13 (15% of total goals)
Ronaldo wasn’t just scoring.
He was creating, pressing, dragging teams forward, and deciding big matches almost weekly.
And he did it with:
- Fewer penalties
- Less team dominance in his first two seasons
- More responsibility in transitional Madrid sides
This wasn’t just volume scoring.
It was total attacking influence.
The Penalty Factor Nobody Wants to Talk About
This is where the comparison gets spicy.
- Mbappe: 23% of goals from penalties
- Ronaldo: 15% of goals from penalties
Penalties count.
But when we’re talking about GOAT-level standards, open-play impact matters.
Ronaldo’s numbers came with:
- More goals from wide areas
- More goals in transition
- More clutch moments in chaotic matches
Mbappe is devastating in space —
But Ronaldo was devastating everywhere.
The Trophies Problem Mbappe Didn’t Expect
There’s another uncomfortable similarity.
Both Mbappe and Ronaldo:
- Scored 30+ goals in their debut seasons
- Failed to win major trophies in Year One
- Carried flawed Madrid teams
But Ronaldo used those early years to build a monster.
Mbappe is still stuck carrying structural issues around him.
Madrid’s current squad:
- Lacks balance
- Lacks midfield control
- Leans too heavily on Mbappe’s individual brilliance
That makes Mbappe look heroic —
But it also inflates how much he has to do compared to Ronaldo, who eventually became part of a machine.
Is Mbappe on Ronaldo’s Level Yet? No. Can He Get There? Yes.
Alvaro Arbeloa called Mbappe the best player in the world.
That’s fair.
But matching Ronaldo’s Madrid legacy is different:
Ronaldo didn’t just score.
He changed what Madrid expected from a superstar.
Mbappe is:
- More explosive
- More fluid
- More versatile in build-up
Ronaldo was:
- More ruthless
- More consistent in big moments
- More dominant without service
Mbappe can match Ronaldo’s numbers.
But to match his legacy, he’ll need:
- Champions League dominance
- Title-winning seasons
- Iconic knockout-stage performances
- Leadership in chaos
The Uncomfortable Truth for Madrid Fans
Mbappe is world-class.
Mbappe is carrying Real Madrid.
Mbappe is the present.
But Ronaldo was a standard-setter.
And 90 games in, Mbappe is still chasing that standard.
The talent is there.
The numbers are close.
The legacy? Not even halfway built.
