For most footballers, signing for Real Madrid is the ultimate achievement.
For Kylian Mbappe, however, arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu was never the final destination – it was the beginning of a much bigger challenge.
The French superstar has spoken openly about his experiences at Real Madrid, his ambitions for the future and the players who have influenced his career.
Despite already reaching the pinnacle of club football, Mbappe made it clear that his focus remains fixed on creating a lasting legacy rather than simply collecting trophies.
Mbappe explains his Real Madrid dream
Reflecting on life at Real Madrid, Mbappe admitted that the club has matched every expectation he had before arriving in Spain.
“It’s just as I imagined. For many people, apart from Barça fans, it’s the greatest club in the world. It breaks your heart.
“I think that’s clear to everyone. It’s the club that embodies and epitomises greatness.
“Barça has made its mark on the history of football in one way or another, but Real Madrid is the world’s favourite club.
Mbappe has named his favourite Real Madrid moment. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I’m happy and proud to be able to play for this club. I’m keen to make my mark on Real Madrid’s history, because if you make your mark on the world’s greatest club, you’ve earned your place in the history of football.”
The forward also revealed that personal ambition remains one of his biggest motivations.
When discussing what he still wants to achieve, Mbappe explained, “It’s a question I ask myself all the time.
“The easy answer would be to say winning every title, but there are people who have achieved more than just winning every title.
“In football, there’s always something to do; if you don’t do it, someone else will take your place.”
Best moment and toughest opponent
Asked to choose his favourite performance in a Real Madrid shirt so far, Mbappe pointed to one particular European night at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Looking back on that occasion, he said, “When I scored a hat-trick against Manchester. That’s like going full throttle.
“It was the Champions League, a knockout match, and I scored a hat-trick at the Bernabéu.”
Mbappe loved his battles against Van Dijk. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Even after establishing himself among the world’s elite players, the Frenchman still talks about improvement, challenges and proving himself at the highest level.
On that note, Mbappe also named one of the toughest opponents he has faced during his career.
“Three or four years ago, I enjoyed facing Van Dijk because he was recognised as the best in his position. And it’s true he was a beast.
“At the World Cup, I want to face Cristiano, because it’ll be his last tournament, I think, or even Neymar. One of the two.”
Messi vs Ronaldo
The Real Madrid star was also asked about the endless debate involving Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Having shared the pitch with both legends, Mbappe offered a balanced perspective.
Explaining his view, he said, “I played with Messi and I played against Cris.
“Cris is my idol, but I played with Leo too, and having played against both of them, they’re actually very different. They’re not the same.
“I think the rivalry between them was good. If you tell me that Ronaldo has no talent or that Messi hasn’t worked hard, it means you’ve never in your life set yourself down to train every day.”
Source: AS
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