Mbappe Shatters Ronaldo’s Champions League Record

Historic Achievement: Mbappe Overtakes Ronaldo’s Legacy

Kylian Mbappe has rewritten Champions League history by becoming the most prolific scorer in the competition’s league phase during a single season. The French striker scored a brace in Lisbon on Wednesday, bringing his tally to 13 goals in the 2025-26 Champions League league phase—surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record of 11 goals set in 2015-16.

A Dominant Scoring Display in Seven Appearances

What makes Mbappe’s achievement even more remarkable is that he accumulated these 13 goals in just seven matches, having missed one matchday through injury. This extraordinary pace has positioned him five goals ahead in the Champions League scoring race. Under the old six-game group stage format, double digits were considered elite territory, with only Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Sebastian Haller ever reaching 10 or more goals before the knockout stages.

Real Madrid’s Playoff Path After Lisbon Defeat

Despite Mbappe’s heroics, Real Madrid suffered a chaotic 4-2 defeat against Benfica, complete with two late red cards and an unexpected 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. The loss forced Madrid into the tougher playoff route to the Round of 16 instead of securing a direct top-eight finish.

Looking ahead, Mbappe now has a realistic opportunity to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time single-season record of 17 goals set in 2013-14. With Madrid still alive in the competition and potential playoff matches ahead, the 26-year-old striker continues to carry his team’s attacking ambitions into the spring.