'I don't think about Cristiano' – No Ronaldo pressure for Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid's newest 'Galactico' follows in footsteps of his 'idol'

The World Cup winner became the latest marquee addition for Blancos president Florentino Perez when heading for Spain as a free agent. He is Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading scorer and is expected to deliver more of the same at Santiago Bernabeu.

Mbappe has been on target in UEFA Super Cup and La Liga competition, but is paying no attention to claims that he is expected to be another version of record-breaking Ronaldo for Real. Mbappe has told reporters: “I don't feel the pressure. I don't think about Cristiano, with all due respect to him. Cristiano is my idol, yes. But no, I don't want to follow anything. I don't want that pressure. I want to be Kylian. I only have the pressure of having to adapt to the team.”

Mbappe went three La Liga games without finding the target before finally breaking his duck with a brace in a 2-0 victory over Real Betis. He added on being off the mark: “It was a great moment. I had been hoping to score in this legendary stadium, which I consider the best in the world. I feel great here. I've said it since I arrived, I'm happy. The fans and everyone at the club have shown me a lot of affection, even when I wasn’t scoring. For some players, three games without a goal might not seem like much, but for me, it felt like a lot. Still, the support from the club and the fans has been incredible. It gives me the confidence to give my all for this club and its badge.”

Mbappe will need to embrace that support in order to get anywhere close to matching what Ronaldo achieved in Madrid. The Portuguese superstar hit 450 goals for the Blancos, helping them to two La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns while also taking his haul of Ballons d’Or to five.