‘For me, it’s like a gift from God’

Kylian Mbappe believes Real Madrid are “the best club in the world” and playing for them is “like a gift from God” as the Champions League’s top scorer prepares to help his side attempt a final comeback against Bayern Munich.

France captain Mbappe scored his only goal since February 8 with a 74th-minute reply in Los Blancos’ 2-1 first-leg loss to the Bundesliga leaders last Tuesday, meaning Madrid will have to end Bayern’s record five-game home run in the competition this season if they are to progress.

“I love being on the pitch and I feel like I’m standing in the best place in the world in a country, football-wise, which is one of the best countries in the world,” Mbappe told Spanish GQ.

“For me, it’s like a gift from God: to have the chance to live the life I love, to play the best games, to be at the best club in the world.

“I am always very grateful to be on the field, to wake up every morning and do what makes me happy.”

Kylian Mbappe: ‘I’m where I wanted to be’

Paris Saint-Germain’s top scorer Mbappe scored a record four La Liga goals in his first season with Madrid in 2024/25, joining the French giants on a reported salary of £17m with a £106.5m signing bonus over the course of his five-year deal.

Madrid finished the season without a major trophy and will miss out again in 2025/26, with Mbappe’s side currently unbeaten twice and drawing a draw in all competitions and trailing Liga leaders Barcelona by nine points with seven league games remaining.

“The most difficult thing is not to find [to the top],” said Mbappe, reflecting on a career that included winning the World Cup at the age of 19 in 2018, when he became the fourth teenager to play in the finals.

“It stays there and continues to evolve. Work doesn’t happen the way you think. There are things you control and things you don’t.”

“Today I am in the place I wanted to be when I was a child, because I always try to give myself a way to get there by working hard, self-discipline and seeking it.

“Even if there is pressure, expectations and what is at stake, when it is time to enter the field, football for me must always be a game, even if it is at a high level.

“Today I have a complete vision, but I try to maintain the spontaneity that got me here. These days, talent is not enough. What makes the difference is consistency.”

Kylian Mbappe statistics 2025/26

Now 27, Mbappe has 39 goals in 38 games in all competitions this season despite missing seven games with a knee injury, sitting out five games in a row between February and March.

He has scored two more goals than any other player in Spain’s top flight and has three more in the Champions League than nearest rivals Bayern and England’s Harry Kane before the quarter-finals.

Here’s a look at Mbappe’s stats for 2025/26 ahead of Madrid’s visit to Bayern on April 15, 2026.

Messi, Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Benzema: Mbappe is chasing records

Mbappe has matched Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi’s record of eight Champions League goals in a single season with 14 in 2025/26.

One would put Mbappe level with legendary strikers Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema’s single-campaign tallies, while another three would equal the record, held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo and Benzema won the Champions League four times with Madrid between 2014 and 2018, with Benzema adding a fifth at the club in 2022.

Kylian Mbappe: Who scored the most goals in France?

With 56 goals in 96 games, Mbappe needs two more to break the Bleus’ record.

Lille striker and fellow 2018 World Cup winner Olivier Giroud, 39, leads the way with 57.

Mbappe’s most recent goal for France came on his last start, in a 2-1 win over Brazil in a friendly on March 26.

France begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Senegal in New Jersey on June 16 (20:00 BST).