How Kylian Mbappe Compares to Messi, Ronaldo After 100 Champions League Matches

Kylian Mbappé (middle) is putting up Champions League numbers that are similar to what Ronaldo and Messi produced. | Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images (Messi), Victor Carretero/Real Madrid/Getty Images (Mbappé), David Ramos/Getty Images (Ronaldo) Kylian Mbappé celebrated becoming the youngest player in history to feature in 100 Champions League games in Real Madrid’s incredible 4–3 comeback win against Roma on Wednesday night.

Kylian Mbappé celebrated becoming the youngest player in history to feature in 100 Champions League games in Real Madrid’s incredible 4–3 comeback win against Roma on Wednesday night.

The Frenchman scored the first of the night for Jose Mourinho’s men, making it 72 goals in 100 games on Europe’s biggest stage.

The Frenchman scored the first of the night for Jose Mourinho’s men, making it 72 goals in 100 games on Europe’s biggest stage.

It feels like only yesterday that the now Real Madrid forward burst into the scene with Monaco during the 2016–17 season, bagging his first career Champions League goal in a memorable 5–3 win away against Manchester City in the round of 16.

It feels like only yesterday that the now Real Madrid forward burst into the scene with Monaco during the 2016–17 season, bagging his first career Champions League goal in a memorable 5–3 win away against Manchester City in the round of 16.

Mbappé moved to Paris Saint-Germain a season later and has since only enhanced his status as one of the greatest players in competition history.

Mbappé moved to Paris Saint-Germain a season later and has since only enhanced his status as one of the greatest players in competition history.

The most prestigious trophy in club soccer continues to evade the Frenchman, but at only 27, Mbappé has spent almost a decade scoring goals for fun, and he’s keeping pace with the greatest goalscorers in Champions League history through 100 games.

The most prestigious trophy in club soccer continues to evade the Frenchman, but at only 27, Mbappé has spent almost a decade scoring goals for fun, and he’s keeping pace with the greatest goalscorers in Champions League history through 100 games.

Kylian Mbappé won the 2025–26 Champions League Golden Boot. | Nicolò Campo/LightRocket/Getty Images Through 100 Champions League appearances, Mbappé has found the back of the net 72 times to go along with 25 assists. His strike against Roma saw him overtake Real Madrid legend Raúl to stand alone as the fifth greatest goalscorer in competition history.

Through 100 Champions League appearances, Mbappé has found the back of the net 72 times to go along with 25 assists. His strike against Roma saw him overtake Real Madrid legend Raúl to stand alone as the fifth greatest goalscorer in competition history.

Mbappé still has a long way to go before he’s even close to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the top two goalscorers in Champions League history. But given his age and how he compares through 100 games, there’s reason to believe he’s capable of matching or even overtaking the two all-time greats when it’s all said and done.

Mbappé still has a long way to go before he’s even close to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the top two goalscorers in Champions League history. But given his age and how he compares through 100 games, there’s reason to believe he’s capable of matching or even overtaking the two all-time greats when it’s all said and done.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in the competition, had only bagged 66 of his eventual 140 goals when he played his 100th Champions League match. Messi ended with 129 goals and had scored 77 after 100 games. Mbappé is sandwiched between the pair at 72, and given the expanded tournament format, he still has plenty of time to close the gap.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in the competition, had only bagged 66 of his eventual 140 goals when he played his 100th Champions League match. Messi ended with 129 goals and had scored 77 after 100 games. Mbappé is sandwiched between the pair at 72, and given the expanded tournament format, he still has plenty of time to close the gap.

Robert Lewandowski is the only other player to eclipse the century goal-mark in the Champions League. The legendary Pole, though, had a staggering 81 goals through his first 100 appearances.

Robert Lewandowski is the only other player to eclipse the century goal-mark in the Champions League. The legendary Pole, though, had a staggering 81 goals through his first 100 appearances.

But beyond the individual statistics, both Messi and Ronaldo were Champions League winners inside their first 100 games played in the competition.

But beyond the individual statistics, both Messi and Ronaldo were Champions League winners inside their first 100 games played in the competition.

Mbappé came closest in 2019–20, when PSG lost 1–0 in the final against Bayern Munich. The Frenchman hasn’t made it past the semifinal round since.

Mbappé came closest in 2019–20, when PSG lost 1–0 in the final against Bayern Munich. The Frenchman hasn’t made it past the semifinal round since.

Champions League glory continues to evade Kylian Mbappé. | Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press/Getty Images Only days after Real Madrid won their record 15th Champions League title in 2024, Mbappé joined Los Blancos and many expected them to build yet another European dynasty. But since he landed in Spain’s capital, Mbappé and Madrid have failed to make it past the quarterfinals.

Only days after Real Madrid won their record 15th Champions League title in 2024, Mbappé joined Los Blancos and many expected them to build yet another European dynasty. But since he landed in Spain’s capital, Mbappé and Madrid have failed to make it past the quarterfinals.

Mbappé was won a World Cup and is the competition’s all-time top goalscorer, but now he admitted that winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is what he wants “more than anything.”

Mbappé was won a World Cup and is the competition’s all-time top goalscorer, but now he admitted that winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is what he wants “more than anything.”

“That’s the objective, that’s the goal [to win the Champions League],” Mbappé told CBS Sports after Madrid’s opening day win vs. Inter Milan. “That’s what I said yesterday about the Ballon d’Or, but the Champions League is even more important.

“That’s the objective, that’s the goal [to win the Champions League],” Mbappé told CBS Sports after Madrid’s opening day win vs. Inter Milan. “That’s what I said yesterday about the Ballon d’Or, but the Champions League is even more important.

“I play for the club of my dreams. It’s really important for me to win the Champions League here in Madrid. I want it more than anything.”

“I play for the club of my dreams. It’s really important for me to win the Champions League here in Madrid. I want it more than anything.”

Although Real Madrid haven’t been overly impressive to start 2026–27, they’re still among the best teams in Europe and Mbappé is a player capable of winning games almost single-handedly. Only time will tell if this is the year when the already legendary Frenchman accomplishes the thing he wants more than anything.

Although Real Madrid haven’t been overly impressive to start 2026–27, they’re still among the best teams in Europe and Mbappé is a player capable of winning games almost single-handedly. Only time will tell if this is the year when the already legendary Frenchman accomplishes the thing he wants more than anything.

Published just now | Modified just nowROBERTO CASILLASRoberto Casillas is a writer for SI FC, focusing primarily on FC Barcelona, the Mexico National Team, Liga MX and all things Latin American football. Born and raised in Mexico City, he developed a deep passion for football from an early age and fell in love with Cruz Azul. The once future star of Mexican football still likes to showcase what’s left of his talent on the Sunday league pitch. He’s also a big fan of the New England Patriots—so much so he moved to the region for four years—, Chicago Cubs and is a life-long Formula 1 follower. When he takes a break from sports, he enjoys traveling the world, watching the latest great TV show, going to concerts and spending plenty of time with friends and family.