Kylian Mbappé Shines in Champions League Opener

Kylian Mbappé is starting the 2026-27 season like a man in a hurry.

The Real Madrid forward struck again on Tuesday night, opening the scoring in a 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan and stretching his perfect run to five goals in five games this campaign.

One loose touch was all he needed.

Curtis Jones surrendered possession in a dangerous area, Brahim Díaz pounced and slipped Mbappé through. With Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez rushing out, the France captain didn’t bother with a touch to steady himself. He swept a first-time finish past Martínez in the 14th minute, ruthless and precise.

That goal carried more than just an early lead. It was Mbappé’s 71st in the Champions League, pulling him level with Real Madrid icon Raúl and into a share of fifth place on the competition’s all-time scoring list. At 27, he is now standing in the company of the legends he grew up watching.

Cristiano Ronaldo still sits far ahead at the summit with 140 Champions League goals from his time with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, a towering benchmark that defines an era. Mbappé isn’t there yet. But he is closing ground at a pace that refuses to slow.

Madrid didn’t wait long to tighten their grip on the game.

Just nine minutes after Mbappé’s opener, Federico Valverde turned a routine moment into a disaster for Inter. Martínez hesitated on the ball, Valverde hunted him down and nicked it away, prodding into the net to make it 2-0. No intricate build-up. Just pressure, a mistake, and punishment.

From there, the 15-time European champions had control, even as the rhythm dipped and Inter pushed late. Madrid conceded a goal near the end to invite tension into a night that had looked straightforward, but they held their nerve to close out a 2-1 victory in their first match of the new Champions League season.

Mbappé walks away with another winner’s medal on the night and another milestone on his record. The question now is simple: how far up that all-time scorers’ list can he climb before this campaign is done?