Real Madrid star forward Kylian Mbappe eyes Cristiano Ronaldo record as he hits 38th goal of the season in tough win over Valencia.
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa believes Kylian Mbappé is the only player capable of reaching the heights set by club legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking after Madrid’s 2-0 victory at Valencia on Sunday, Arbeloa praised the Frenchman’s incredible form as he continues to lead the line for Los Blancos.
Mbappé secured the win with a goal in added time—his 38th of the season—after Álvaro Carreras had broken the deadlock in the 65th minute. The result keeps Madrid just one point behind leaders Barcelona in the LaLiga title race. “We thought we wouldn’t see anything like Cristiano, but [Mbappé] is on track,” Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV. “Right now he’s the best player in the world for sure.”
While Ronaldo’s record of 450 goals remains a distant target, Mbappé has already netted 81 goals since his arrival in 2024. Arbeloa acknowledged the long road ahead but backed his star forward’s potential: “Kylian has the qualities to follow his path. You never know. If anyone can do it, it’s Kylian.”
The match also saw Trent Alexander-Arnold make his first appearance of 2026, coming off the bench in the 76th minute as he recovers from injury. Arbeloa chose to start academy graduate David Jiménez at right-back, resting both Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal. Regarding the cautious approach, Arbeloa stated, “With Trent, after a long time out, we’ll be very cautious. We want [recovering players] to find their rhythm little by little.”
Despite a slow start at the Mestalla, Arbeloa defended the team’s grit. “We know coming to Mestalla is like going to the dentist,” he remarked. “We knew how difficult the game would be. It was a very serious, committed game from the players.”
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