Mbappé's double act: record scorer, but no Champions League title

While Kylian Mbappé climbs into the top five of the all‑time scorers' list with 71 Champions League goals, he remains the only player in this group who has not yet won the coveted title – a contrast between a personal milestone and a missing trophy.

Milestone in the all‑time scorers' list

The Real Madrid striker reached the 71‑goal mark with his opening goal in the group‑stage opener against Inter Milan, thereby sharing fifth place with Raúl. Both players have an impressive goals‑per‑game ratio, with Mbappé at 0.72 clearly better than Raúl at 0.50. The mission to lead the scorers' list in every competition is progressing rapidly, according to Europa Press Sports/GettyImages.

In the match against Inter Milan, Mbappé exploited a lapse in the defence and put the ball in the net already after a quarter of an hour. Federico Valverde doubled the lead nine minutes later, putting Real Madrid ahead 2‑1. José Mourinho celebrated with this result his first European match since returning to the Bernabéu.

Inter fought back, but Carlos Augusto managed only a consolation goal in the second half. Despite this counter‑attack, the score remained 2‑1, and Mbappé's opening goal proved decisive for the win.

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Outlook: 100th Champions League appearance and further goals

Mbappé will celebrate his 100th Champions League appearance at his next outing and thus remains the only top‑five player who has never won the competition. He still needs 19 goals to catch up with fourth‑placed Karim Benzema, and would have to double his current goal tally to overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the overall top scorer.

Last season he and Real Madrid only reached the quarter‑finals, but he ended the 2025/26 season with 15 goals as the Champions League top scorer – a record surpassed only by Ronaldo. In the summer he became the World Cup record scorer with 22 goals, overtaking Lionel Messi.

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In an interview with France Football, where he is considered a favourite for this year’s Ballon d’Or, Mbappé retorts to critics of his defensive work: “I don’t find it normal, but that’s the life of someone who has been at the top for years. I’m no longer a sensation.”