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Kylian Mbappé hits Ronaldo stat in Real Madrid opener

2026-08-24 · Kylian Mbappé · Match-Report

Kylian Mbappé hits Ronaldo stat in Real Madrid opener

Kylian Mbappé endured a statistically frustrating start to Real Madrid's 2026/27 La Liga campaign, failing to score in a 2-1 victory over Espanyol. Despite leading the attack, the 27-year-old struggled to find the net, matching a rare benchmark set by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The narrow win at the RCDE Stadium marked the beginning of the José Mourinho era in the capital. While Los Blancos secured the three points through a last-gasp strike from Carlos Espí, Mbappé found himself isolated in front of goal. Statisticians noted that the Frenchman is the first Real Madrid player to register 10 or more shots and fail to score in a La Liga match since Cristiano Ronaldo did in 2018.

Returning to Spain after an extended break following the World Cup, Mbappé has now fully integrated into the squad at Valdebebas. He has linked up with new arrivals Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, and Ibrahima Konaté. Speaking to the media this week, the forward expressed his optimism about working under the legendary head coach.

"We have one goal: win," Mbappé stated. "It's very positive to have a coach like Mourinho who knows how to win." His confidence reflects the high expectations placed upon the club as they chase major silverware under the tactical specialist.

While his individual form started slowly, Mbappé remains a central figure in conversation regarding the 2026 Ballon d'Or. However, legend Rio Ferdinand recently snubbed the French star and Lionel Messi in favor of Harry Kane for the award. Ferdinand pointed to Kane's 73-goal season and his six-goal haul at the World Cup as reasons why the Bayern Munich striker should be ahead.

  • Mbappé took 10+ shots without a goal against Espanyol.
  • Real Madrid won 2-1 in the season opener under Mourinho.
  • Mbappé praised José Mourinho's winning mentality for the new season.

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