Rome: Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player to make 100 UEFA Champions League appearances during his side’s 4-3 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Frenchman marked the milestone by scoring a first-half equaliser in Madrid’s victory.
Mbappe broke the record held by Lionel Messi, who reached 100 Champions League appearances at the age of 28 while playing for Barcelona against Roma in September 2015.
Mbappe’s 72nd Champions League goal also moved him ahead of former Real Madrid player Raul Gonzalez into fifth place on the competition’s all-time scoring list. The French forward made his Champions League debut with Monaco as a 17-year-old in September 2016. Another of Messi’s record also fell on Wednesday, with Erling Haaland becoming the youngest player to score 60 Champions League goals at 26 years and 85 days. The Manchester City striker scored twice in his side’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, taking his tally in the competition to 61 goals in 60 appearances.
The match in Rome saw Real Madrid stage a dramatic late comeback after falling two goals behind. Marten de Roon gave the hosts the lead in the 20th minute before Mbappe equalised five minutes later. Donyell Malen then scored twice in the 51st and 57th minutes to put Roma 3-1 ahead.
However, Carlos Espi pulled one back for the visitors in the 82nd minute before Endrick levelled the score three minutes later. Former Roma defender Antonio Rudiger then completed the turnaround in the 90th minute, converting Arda Guler’s inswinging corner from close range to seal a 4-3 win for the Spanish side. Madrid coach Jose Mourinho credited his substitutions for the comeback, saying Roma’s high-intensity approach had become difficult to sustain over 90 minutes. He added that his side had weathered a difficult first half before finding greater stability after the break.
Mbappe topped the Champions League scoring charts last season with 15 goals. His tally included a hat-trick against Olympiacos in which he scored three times in six minutes and 42 seconds, the second-fastest hat-trick in the competition’s history.
(Inputs from Reuters, UEFA, AP)
