Mbappe Equals Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid Beat Sevilla 2-0 in La Liga Clash

French superstar Mbappe continued to etch his name into football history as Real Madrid secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 27-year-old forward matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing club record of 59 goals in a calendar year, a milestone previously achieved by the Portuguese icon in 2013.

Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the first half, while Mbappe sealed the win with a late penalty, allowing Los Blancos to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to just one point. The result came at a vital moment for Madrid, who are beginning to rediscover form after a challenging spell.

The spotlight firmly belonged to Mbappe, who calmly converted from the penalty spot late in the match to draw level with Ronaldo’s legendary tally. The French forward showed composure under pressure, sending Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos the wrong way to register his 59th goal of the year.

Mbappe’s pursuit of the record had been relentless throughout the evening. Earlier, he struck the crossbar with a powerful header, fired narrowly wide from distance, and forced Vlachodimos into several impressive saves. On his birthday, the forward looked determined to make the occasion unforgettable, and he ultimately delivered when it mattered most.

Although he was unable to surpass Ronaldo’s mark on the night, Mbappe’s performance reinforced his status as one of the game’s most dominant attacking forces and a central figure in Real Madrid’s ambitions.

Mbappe Matches Ronaldo’s Historic Record

Before Mbappe stole the headlines, it was Jude Bellingham who gave Real Madrid the breakthrough. The England midfielder rose highest to meet a dangerous free-kick from Rodrygo Goes, powering a header past Vlachodimos to give the hosts a deserved first-half lead.

Bellingham’s influence extended beyond his goal. His movement caused constant problems for Sevilla’s defense, and his late runs into the box repeatedly unsettled the visitors. The midfielder was also involved in a key moment in the second half when Sevilla defender Marcao fouled him clumsily, earning a second yellow card and leaving the visitors with ten men.

Sevilla began the match with confidence, fresh from a stunning 4-1 win over Barcelona earlier in the season. Veteran forward Alexis Sanchez was heavily involved in the opening stages, testing Madrid’s defense with his movement and creativity.

Thibaut Courtois was called into action on multiple occasions, producing fine saves to deny Isaac Romero early in the second half. Sanchez himself came close before the break, landing an acrobatic effort on the roof of the net.

However, Sevilla’s task became significantly harder after their coach, Matias Almeyda, was sent off at half-time for dissent. The dismissal disrupted the visitors’ rhythm, and Marcao’s red card after the hour mark further reduced their chances of mounting a comeback.

The closing stages were filled with controversy. Real Madrid were awarded multiple penalties, only for two of them to be overturned after VAR reviews. One decision ruled that Sevilla defender Oso had won the ball cleanly, while another foul occurred just outside the penalty area.

Mbappe nearly added another goal from the resulting free-kick, curling his effort just over the top corner as he chased a place beyond Ronaldo in the record books.

The victory marked Real Madrid’s third consecutive win across all competitions, easing pressure on head coach Xabi Alonso after a run of inconsistent results. With Barcelona still to play Villarreal on Sunday, Madrid’s win has added fresh tension to the title race.

For Mbappe, the night was another reminder of his extraordinary impact. Matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record is no small achievement, and while he will have to wait until 2026 to attempt to surpass it, his influence on Real Madrid’s season is already undeniable.

As the campaign progresses, all eyes will remain on Mbappe, whose goals, leadership, and hunger for history continue to drive Los Blancos forward.