On February 19, 2025, Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick to help Real Madrid defeat Manchester City 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. With a 6-3 aggregate score, Real Madrid advanced to the UEFA Champions League last 16.

In addition to highlighting Mbappé’s crucial role in the team, this performance earned the French forward tremendous admiration from manager Carlo Ancelotti, who hinted that the player could become as legendary as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Match Overview

Real Madrid enjoyed a 3-2 lead from their first meeting at the Etihad Stadium going into the second leg. There was an electrifying atmosphere at the Bernabéu as supporters waited for their team to put on a decisive display. Mbappé didn’t waste any time in putting City ahead in the fourth minute with a beautiful lob over Ederson, the defensive player.

By dodging defender Josko Gvardiol and hitting the ball into the near corner in the 33rd minute, he demonstrated his quickness and doubled the lead. Players and fans were in shock when Mbappé finished his hat-trick shortly after the hour mark by curling a left-footed shot into the far corner.

Nico González gave Manchester City their lone reply in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to change the result..

Ancelotti’s Endorsement

Carlo Ancelotti praised Mbappé’s extraordinary potential and hard ethic after the game. “He has the quality to reach his numbers, but he has to work, because Cristiano set the bar very high,” Ancelotti said, comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time greatest scorer for Real Madrid with 451 goals.

But he is so excited to play here; he can reach Cristiano’s level.” This support from a manager of Ancelotti’s caliber highlights Mbappé’s enormous potential.

Historic Milestone

After 358 goals and 142 assists in his career, Mbappé’s second goal of the night became his 500th goal contribution. Reaching this milestone at the age of 26 years and 61 days, he outperformed both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of timeliness.

This accomplishment not only demonstrates Mbappé’s dependability and skill on the field, but it also establishes him as a major player in modern football. 

A Nod to Legends

As a sign of his admiration for football legends, Mbappé mimicked the famous celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo for his first goal and the famous 2011 posture of Lionel Messi for his third. Even as he forges his own history in the sport, Mbappé acknowledges legendary figures who came before him with these tributes.

Gazing Ahead

With this win, Real Madrid moves on to the round of 16 of the Champions League, where, depending on the next draw, they will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

The football community will be closely watching to see if Mbappé can maintain his incredible play and get closer to the legendary milestones set by his predecessors as the season goes on.