99 Games, 71 Goals: Real Madrid’s Mbappe Reaches Raul

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has drawn level with Raul on 71 Champions League goals, joining the club legend in fifth place on the competition’s all-time scoring list. The Frenchman reached the milestone against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on September 8, 2026, during his 99th appearance in the competition.

The achievement concerns their overall Champions League totals, not goals scored exclusively for Real Madrid. Mbappe’s tally includes contributions for Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, while Raul’s includes his spell at Schalke.

The Goal That Took Mbappe Level With Raul

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute as Real Madrid began their 2026/27 Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter.

Federico Valverde doubled Madrid’s advantage nine minutes later. Carlos Augusto pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 77th minute, but Madrid held on to secure the win. Mbappe’s early breakthrough therefore delivered both a personal landmark and a valuable contribution to his team’s European opener.

Champions League All-Time Scoring Leaders

The leading positions following Mbappe’s milestone are:

Position	Player	Champions League Goals
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	140
2	Lionel Messi	129
3	Robert Lewandowski	109
4	Karim Benzema	90
Joint 5	Kylian Mbappe	71
Joint 5	Raul Gonzalez	71

These figures exclude qualifying rounds and reflect the standings as of September 10, 2026. Mbappe has equalled Raul’s total, not surpassed it.

How Mbappe Built His 71-Goal Tally

Mbappe began making his mark in the Champions League with Monaco during the 2016/17 season, scoring six times in that campaign. His subsequent spell at Paris Saint-Germain supplied the largest share of his current total, with 42 goals.

Club	Champions League Goals
Monaco	6
Paris Saint-Germain	42
Real Madrid	23
Total	71

His strike against Inter was his 23rd Champions League goal for Real Madrid. The club-by-club breakdown underlines why the 71-goal milestone should not be presented as a Madrid-only record.

Why the Raul Comparison Matters

Raul finished with 71 goals across 142 Champions League appearances. Mbappe has reached the same total in 99 appearances, giving him an identical goal tally in 43 fewer matches. That comparison highlights the French forward’s scoring rate without suggesting he holds the competition’s overall scoring record.

Raul’s own total comprised 66 goals for Real Madrid and five for Schalke. Mbappe has therefore matched his career tally in the competition, rather than his individual contribution in Madrid colours.

The historical significance extends beyond their shared club connection. Raul’s 71 goals once represented the Champions League’s outright scoring record. Lionel Messi drew level with that benchmark on November 5, 2014, before the competition’s leading totals climbed substantially higher.

Benzema Is the Next Landmark

Mbappe entered the new European campaign after finishing as the 2025/26 Champions League’s leading scorer, with 15 goals in 11 appearances. His goal against Inter continued that scoring momentum into the following season.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – LaLiga – Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – September 22, 2021 Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez

The next player above him in the historical rankings is another former Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema, on 90 goals. From his current total, Mbappe needs 19 more goals to equal Benzema and 20 to overtake him. His immediate milestone, however, is one further goal to move beyond Raul’s 71.