UEFA Champions League: Kylian Mbappe broke Lionel Messi’s 11-year-old record in the Champions League. At the age of 27, the French star of Real Madrid set the precedent of playing 100 matches in the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid won 4-3 against Roma in the competition’s league match at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Wednesday, October 14. Mbappe gave the team the lead by scoring the first goal in that match. Although Real later fell behind 1-3, they scored three goals in the last 10 minutes to pull off an incredible comeback win.
100 matches at the youngest age in the Champions League
Mbappe now holds the record for playing 100 matches at the youngest age in Champions League history. He reached this milestone at the age of 27 years and 198 days. Earlier, Messi set the record in 2015. The Argentine superstar played his 100th Champions League match at the age of 28 years and 84 days. Interestingly, Messi also achieved the feat at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, in a group stage match against Roma. Mbappe broke that record after 11 years.
Messi is after Mbappe in the list of records
Messi is next to Mbappe in the list of the youngest footballers to play 100 matches in the Champions League. In third place is former Real star Raul, who played 100 matches at the age of 28 years and 239 days. Next on the list are Iker Casillas (28 years 272 days), Thomas Muller (29 years 6 days) and Cristiano Ronaldo (29 years 56 days). By making this list, Mbappe proved his consistency and long-term high-quality performance.
Example of 100 goals and assists in 100 matches
Mbappe has produced extraordinary statistics in his first 100 matches in the Champions League. In these 100 matches, his contribution is 100 goals and assists. Besides scoring 72 goals in the competition, he scored 28 goals with his teammates. In other words, the French star contributes one goal or assist per match on average. Such consistency has established Mbappe as one of the most feared attacking footballers in Europe’s highest level of club football.
Behind Messi and Lewandowski on the list of goals in 100 matches
However, Mbappe is still third in the list of most goals scored in the first 100 matches in the Champions League. Poland star Robert Lewandowski scored 81 goals in his first 100 matches. Messi’s number of goals was 77. Mbappe has 72 goals there. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 64 goals and Karim Benzema’s 53 are in fourth place. It is clear from these statistics that Mbappe is competing with the all-time greats in scoring Champions League goals at such a young age.
Monaco to Real, consistency of goals in all three clubs
Mbappe has played for three clubs in the Champions League so far. He scored 6 goals in 9 matches for Monaco. Later he scored 42 goals in 64 matches for Paris Saint-Germain. Even after joining Real Madrid in 2024, his scoring rate did not slow down. He has already scored 24 goals in 27 matches in the Champions League for the Spanish club. In other words, despite changing clubs, the French captain has retained his ability to score goals on Europe’s biggest stage.
Real’s incredible comeback against Roma
Along with Mbappe’s personal feat against Roma, Real Madrid’s comeback was one of the highlights of the match. In the 25th minute, Mbappe scored a quick shot from outside the box to give the team the lead. But later the home team went ahead 3-1. Jose Mourinho’s team reached the threshold of victory, but Real turned the match around by scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes. In the end, the 15-time Champions League winners won 4-3. The win, on Mbappe’s record-breaking night, also demonstrated Real’s fighting spirit in European competition.
In all, Mbappe broke Messi’s long-standing record as the youngest player to play 100 games in the Champions League. 72 goals and 28 assists in the first 100 matches is proof of his tremendous impact. His performances for Real Madrid are also reaching new heights. It remains to be seen where this figure stops with age.