Kylian Mbappe scored a stunning hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-1 (6-3 on aggregate) to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. He celebrated by mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s chipped-hand gesture and Lionel Messi’s iconic 1-2-3 finger count. The 26-year-old now boasts over 500 career goal contributions, further solidifying his legacy alongside football’s greatest.
Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning performance, scoring a hat-trick to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory over Manchester City, securing a 6-3 aggregate win in the Champions League round of 16. The French star paid tribute to football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with his celebrations. After his first goal—a chipped shot over Ederson—Mbappe mimicked Ronaldo’s recent hand gesture celebration from his goal against Al Wasl. His third goal, a powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box, was followed by Messi’s iconic “1-2-3” finger count celebration from 2011.
This hat-trick took Mbappe’s career contributions to over 500 goals and assists, further cementing his legacy. Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham praised Mbappe’s brilliance but emphasized the importance of teamwork and discipline alongside talent. Manager Carlo Ancelotti hailed Mbappe as “fantastic,” while club legend Zinedine Zidane watched from the stands, visibly impressed.
https://x.com/footballontnt/status
Mbappe has long admired both Ronaldo and Messi, previously calling Ronaldo irreplaceable and expressing how much he misses playing alongside Messi at PSG. At just 26, Mbappe continues to blend inspiration from past legends while shaping his own path as one of football’s modern greats.
