Mbappé equals 'idol' Ronaldo with his record 59th goal in a year for Real Madrid

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid's final game of the year.

On his 27th birthday, Mbappé matched Ronaldo’s tally from 2013. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo’s trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.

“It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He's) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.

“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.

Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.

Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.

Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team’s future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.

Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two home games. But Madrid's fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.

Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid’s defense.

Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.

The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.

“Today was a game we had to win, we were in a complicated situation,” Alonso said. “We know that we can play better, and now we have the three points and will try to start the new year by improving.”

Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.

Levante and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 in Valencia before both sides announced the hiring of new coaches.

Sociedad hired American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, while Luís Castro joined last-placed Levante.

Ante Budimir scored his first league goals in nearly two months to help Osasuna beat Alaves 3-0 and achieve its biggest win of the campaign.

The Croatia striker volleyed in a cross for the 72nd-minute breakthrough after Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera made several saves.

Budimir made it a brace from the penalty spot after a handball by Víctor Parada and Raúl García completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Real Oviedo did not improve in the debut of its third coach of the season after a scoreless draw with Celta Vigo at home.

Celta had the best chances to break the deadlock of a game that featured a small flock of pigeons that spent a long period of time on the field.

Guillermo Almada is Oviedo’s third coach since returning to the top flight last season. The team from northern Spain is in second-to-last place.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe blows a kiss towards the TV camera as he celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks out from the dugout ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right looks to control the ball under pressure from Sevilla's Juanlu Sanchez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored twice, Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves and the Minnesota Wild beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight victory.

Ryan Hartman, Vladimir Tarasenko and Nico Sturm also scored, Mats Zuccarello had two assists and Minnesota set a franchise record with a 14-game home points streak, going 12-0-2 at Grand Casino Arena since Nov. 1.

Gustavsson is 8-1-1 in his last 10 starts. The Wild have allowed just 11 goals during the winning streak , giving up no more than two in any game.

Connor McDavid and Andrew Mangiapane scored for Edmonton, and Calvin Pickard stopped 32 shots. The Oilers had won four of five and six of eight.

Leon Draisaitl had two assists to reach 50 points for the 11th straight season, tying Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier for the Oilers’ record.

Midway through the third period, Tarasenko scored his fourth goal in three games, poking home a puck that trickled behind Pickard to give the Wild a 4-2 lead. Sturm added an empty-netter.

It was the first goal since Minnesota led 3-2 after a frenetic opening period.

Boldy opneed the scoring at 3:42, racing in alone to score for the fourth straight game. He buried a feed from Quinn Hughes on a power play seven minutes later to make it 2-0.

Boldy has seven goals in his past eight games and has 22 overall to tie Kirill Kaprizov for the team lead. Minnesota is the only team with two 20-plus goal scorers.

Mangiapane scored on a redirect and McDavid poked in a loose puck to tie it late in the period, but Hartman finished a give-and-go with Jake Middleton with eight seconds left. McDavid has 11 goals and 12 assists in his last nine games.

Oilers: Host Vegas on Sunday night.

Wild: Host Colorado on Sunday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Minnesota Wild center Nico Sturm (78) and Edmonton Oilers left wing Max Jones (46) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) and Edmonton Oilers center Matt Savoie (22) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates toward left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) shoots and scores a goal past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)