Kylian Mbappé, the highly anticipated French striker, has long envisioned playing for Real Madrid since his childhood. Now, as he navigates his early career with the Spanish giants, the inevitable comparisons to club legend Cristiano Ronaldo are being drawn, particularly regarding their pace to reach significant scoring milestones. A key benchmark being analyzed is who achieved 50 goals faster for the illustrious club.
During the 2024-25 season, the 26-year-old Mbappé officially launched his career on Spanish soil. While he didn’t secure a title with Real Madrid in his debut season, he consistently found the back of the net. He notably scored 44 goals across all competitions Real Madrid participated in, establishing himself as the highest-scoring player in the club’s history during a debut season. For context, Cristiano Ronaldo managed only 3 goals in his initial season launch with Real Madrid.
Moving into the 2025-26 season, Mbappé has continued to find strong form, netting six goals early on. Under the guidance of new coach Xabi Alonso, Mbappé has solidified his position as Real Madrid’s primary striker, scoring five goals in his last five matches. Statistical analysis from the 2025-26 season indicates Mbappé is averaging a goal every 74.5 minutes, a scoring rate that is reportedly faster than Ronaldo’s during his tenure in Spain. Previously, during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappé scored 44 goals in 64 matches, averaging a goal every 103.8 minutes.
However, the journey to 50 goals presents a deeper comparison. Mbappé reached this milestone in 64 games. Of his 50 goals, 11 were from penalties and 1 was from a free kick. In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved his first 50 goals for Real Madrid in a significantly fewer 54 games, meaning he reached the mark 10 matches quicker than Mbappé. Of Ronaldo’s 50 goals, 9 were from penalty kicks, and an impressive 8 were scored from free kicks.
Furthermore, Ronaldo’s overall contribution during his initial scoring spree was arguably more impactful. While Mbappé assisted teammates on six occasions on his way to 50 goals, the Portugal captain demonstrated greater influence by directly deciding team outcomes with 14 assists during the period he reached his first 50 goals for the club.
