Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is “on course to make history at Real Madrid” as the star striker closes in on Cristiano Ronaldo's club record for most goals scored in a calendar year.
Mbappé's brace in Madrid's 3-0 LaLiga win against Athletic Club on Wednesday took the club to 55 goals in 2025, just four shy of Ronaldo's record of 59 goals, set in 2013.
Madrid has four games left this year, starting with hosting Celta Vigo at the Bernabéu on Sunday.
“Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid, just like Cristiano did,” Alonso said at a press conference on Saturday. “With his ambition, his statistics… he is among a select few.
“Working with him every day is fantastic. His desire to influence others, his contagious energy, is something he shares with Cristiano. I see similarities there.”
Alonso refused to say which player he would choose (Mbappé or his former teammate Ronaldo) if he had to choose.
“Cristiano is Cristiano and Kylian is Kylian,” Alonso said. “They are both exceptional. We are very lucky to have Kylian and we have to make the most of him.”
Madrid began the weekend just one point behind rival Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table.
They go into the match against Celta without a specialist right-back, after Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Dani Carvajal as a long-term absentee this week, with midfielder Fede Valverde likely to deputize.
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“We will have to evaluate what decision we make, but there are other options,” Alonso said. “Fede always puts the team first… I remember great games he played against Barça, against Juve. He is generous and wants to help the team.”
The win in Bilbao relieved some pressure on Alonso after Madrid's three previous league games ended in draws.
“It was a good game, complete, complete [performance]”Alonso said. “Now we want to find consistency. “We need to be where we need to be in April or May.”
