Kylian Mbappe: “Messi and Ronaldo Are Irreplaceable”

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has made it clear that he never aimed to emulate Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, emphasizing that both players hold an unparalleled status in football.

Despite frequent comparisons to the two legends, Mbappe has downplayed any suggestion that he is following in their footsteps. Since his move to Real Madrid last summer, the French star has already netted 30 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions.

Now, with just two more goals, Mbappe is on the verge of surpassing Ronaldo’s debut-season record of 33 goals— a feat the Portuguese icon shares with former Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

However, Mbappe insists that breaking records does not equate to inheriting their legacy.

Speaking at a press conference while on international duty with France, the 26-year-old reaffirmed his stance:

“I’m not trying to take their place. They are irreplaceable.”

Following his 30th goal of the season, Mbappe remained humble, acknowledging the profound impact Messi and Ronaldo have had on the sport.

“They are legends who defined an era. Statistics matter, but at the end of the day, they’re just numbers. Scoring more goals than Ronaldo or Messi doesn’t make me greater—it simply means my first season is going well.”

Messi has scored over 850 career goals, while Ronaldo remains the highest goal scorer in football history, with over 920 to his name.