Kylian Mbappe gave an unbelievable hat trick against Manchester City to help Real Madrid seal Champions League last 16 qualification and achieve a personal record in his Los Blancos journey.
It was the kind of night he must have dreamt as a kid on his bedroom walls with posters of Cristiano Ronaldo and once more as a aggrieved PSG player sitting and watching Madrid dominate Europe.
Mbappe’s previous club Paris Saint-Germain struggled in the Champions League for years while Real Madrid took its record to a record-breaking 15 European Cups. Finally, after joining the Spanish capital on a long-term move last summer, Mbappe’s early days were uncertain.
Mbappe had an issue with form and confidence and was culpable of spurning crucial penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao. However, he vowed to show his character, and he has delivered, scoring 18 goals in his last 18 matches.
Against City, he produced his best performance yet in a Madrid shirt. His three clinical finishes helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side secure a 3-1 victory on the night and a 6-3 aggregate triumph. It was a defining moment, proving his ability to step up when the team needed him most.
“This is the type of game we want to play,” Mbappe said. “People talked about these nights, and now I see it myself. I want to have many more like this.”
But being a part of Madrid is not sufficient for Mbappe—he wants to make history. “To make my dream come true is one thing, but I want to mark an era and write history in this club,” he maintained. “If I can score 50 goals, I will. But the real goal is winning titles.”
With 28 goals in 38 matches, comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo are already being drawn. Ancelotti sees Mbappe’s talent but warns that it will take years of work to be as good as Ronaldo. “Cristiano set the bar very high,” he said. “Mbappe has the quality to get there, but he has to work for it.”
Madrid’s next challenge is either city arch-rival Atletico Madrid or German champion Bayer Leverkusen, and Mbappe prefers a derby. “It’s better to play a tough match without traveling,” he said.
With his newfound confidence, Mbappe is proving that he’s ready to lead Real Madrid’s next golden generation.
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