Kylian Mbappe Overtakes Real Madrid Legend: Who is he Hunting Down Next?

In Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League win away to AS Roma, Kylian Mbappe scored his 72nd goal in the competition, as well as his 100th goal contribution, doing so in as many games.

This goal meant he overtook Los Blancos legend Raul in the competition’s all time scoring standings, and now sits in fifth place outright.

Furthermore, he also became the youngest player to play 100 games in the competition, doing so at 27 years and 298 days old. The record had belonged to Lionel Messi, at 28 years and 84 days, meaning the record was broken by 151 days. The aforementioned Raul makes up that particular podium, at 28 years and 239 days.

So, who else is Mbappe looking to catch in the scoring charts?

Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is the competition’s all time leading goalscorer, with 140, 105 of which were scored whilst wearing the famous white shirt between 2009 and 2018.

Then, you have Messi (Barcelona, PSG) in second with 129, followed by Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona) in third, with 109.

In fourth place you have another Real Madrid legend in the form of Karim Benzema, who scored 90 goals in the Champions League. So, it is Mbappe’s former France national team partner that he will be hunting down next to try and move up yet one more place.

He would need absolutely unprecedented numbers to catch Benzema up this season, but if the number nine can still add a significant amount this season — let’s say another nine to get up to 81 — then Benzema’s tally could definitely be reached next season, barring injuries, suspensions and whatnot.

At the same time, he is himself being hunted down by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who currently has 61 goals in 60 games, a quite simply phenomenal record. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is not far behind with 57 (in 72), but considering Haaland’s age (18 months or so younger than Mbappe) - that is who the Frenchman will have to be wary of moving forwards.

Since joining Real Madrid, the 27-year old has a record of 24 goals in 27 European games, an extremely good record, though fans have rightly or wrongly criticised how a lopsided proportion (19/24, 79.17%) of those goals have come in the league phase.

Well, let’s hope this season again brings plenty of league phase goals, helping to avoid a two legged play off round, with lots of goals to follow in the knockouts too. The forward did manage to score in both legs of the quarter final with Bayern last season, but also missed some guilt edged chances too - three big chances missed across the two legs - that could have made all the difference. So, let’s wait see if he improves on that this time around.