Mbappe Can Be Real Madrid 'Legend' Like Ronaldo (Ancelotti)
French forward Kylian Mbappe kisses his jersey during a first appearance as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on July 16, 2024, after signing his new five-season contract. Still celebrating Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, Real Madrid fans have even more to cheer this July 16, 2024, as French superstar Kylian Mbappe is officially presented to a packed-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium. ©Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe is capable of becoming a legend at the club like all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mbappe idolized Ronaldo while growing up and, after joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has equalled the Portuguese striker's tally of 33 goals in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"What I wish for Mbappe is that he is capable of achieving what Ronaldo did at Real Madrid -- and I think that he can do it," Ancelotti told a news conference.

"That means he will be a legend at Real Madrid, like Cristiano Ronaldo is."

Ronaldo joined Real from Manchester United in 2009 and departed in 2018 as the club's top scorer with 450 goals.

The 40-year-old, now at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scored 33 goals in 35 games in his first campaign with Real Madrid.

Mbappe, 26, notched a brace against Leganes in La Liga on Saturday and said it was "very special" to match Ronaldo.

"We know what he means for Real Madrid and me; we speak; he gives me a lot of advice," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.

With Madrid still competing on three fronts this season, Mbappe has plenty of time to increase his tally.

Ancelotti's side hosts Real Sociedad on Tuesday in a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg clash, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in San Sebastian.

Should Madrid go on to win the cup, Ancelotti would become their first coach to lift it on three occasions.

"Being close to a final motivates me, it motivates the players, and it motivates the club," said Ancelotti.

"It's an achievement to play in a final in any competition, so being so close and having a small advantage, because we'll have the support of our fans, obviously motivates us even more."

 

With AFP

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