Mbappe CONFIRMS Ronaldo contact amid Real Madrid return rumours

Cameron Smith

• 30 Mar 2025 04:00 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Kylian Mbappe has confirmed that he is in regular contact with Cristiano Ronaldo after equalling the Real Madrid legend’s goal tally from his debut season.

Mbappe netted a second consecutive La Liga brace to help Los Blancos scrape a narrow 3-2 win over Leganes on Saturday evening, moving him onto 33 goals across all competitions so far this season.

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As a result, he has drawn level with Ronaldo’s tally from his debut campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu back in 2009-10.

After finding out his achievement, Mbappe told Real Madrid TV (via Flashscore): “It's very special... to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good.

“We know what he means for Real Madrid and me, we speak, he gives me a lot of advice, he scored many goals - but we have to win trophies here.”

Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus back in 2018, but he remains a club legend in the Spanish capital and Mbappe is known to have idolised the Portugal star during his childhood.

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Cristiano Ronaldo to rejoin Real Madrid?

News of Ronaldo’s contact with Mbappe comes following rumours that he could return to Real Madrid this summer in order to feature at the inaugural Club World Cup.

Al-Nassr failed to qualify for the tournament, but Ronaldo has been tipped to leave the Saudi Pro League outfit in order to join a club competing in the United States of America.

The summer transfer window has been brought forward in order to allow clubs to add new signings to their squad before the Club World Cup begins, and Ronaldo could opt to join a new club as a result.

As the tournament will only be held every four years, there’s a chance that Ronaldo will have retired by the time the 2030 edition rolls around, so he may choose to pursue a move to a club competing in this year’s tournament.

A return to Real Madrid has been mooted online, although the presence of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Endrick, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and, of course, Mbappe means there may not be room for Ronaldo in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.