Kylian Mbappe has outpaced Cristiano Ronaldo to a remarkable milestone but couldn’t quite eclipse Lionel Messi’s record.
During Tuesday night’s match, Mbappe shone as Paris Saint-Germain secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals. Already leading 2-0 from the first leg against Real Sociedad, Mbappe struck early in the 15th minute with a thunderous shot that tore through the net.
In the second half, he added another goal at the 56th-minute mark before Mikel Merino netted one for Sociedad in the 89th minute.
With his brace, Mbappe became the second-youngest player ever to reach 45 Champions League goals at 25 years and 76 days old. Only Messi achieved this milestone at a younger age, accomplishing it when he was just 24 years and 257 days old. Ronaldo, in contrast, reached 45 goals after his 27th birthday.
Reflecting on the match, Mbappe said: “We knew we couldn’t afford to be complacent. If they scored first, they would have had the momentum with their fans behind them. We had to crush their hopes early on. That’s what we did, and we’re thrilled to advance to the quarter-finals.”
Addressing rumors of a rift with PSG manager Luis Enrique, Mbappe clarified, “There’s no issue between us, despite what some may believe. I have my concerns, but the coach isn’t one of them.”
Enrique echoed, “I don’t have any issues with any player. Mbappe can excel under any coach, scoring 50 goals and providing 25 assists. In my view, he’s the best player in the world in the attacking third, unstoppable.”
On the same night, Bayern Munich also secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals by defeating Lazio 3-0 to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
