Kylian was honored at the Bernabeu as the best European striker of last season, in the presence of his teammates, who joined him on stage, president Florentino Perez, and coach Xabi Alonso: “Differences between PSG and Real? I’m proud to have been part of both.”

“Thanks to all my teammates for bringing out the best in me. We have an incredible group and we can win a lot.” In the belly of the Bernabeu, Kylian Mbappé, 26, elegantly dressed in black, receives his first Golden Boot for the 2024-25 season, which he finished as the top European striker with 31 goals in La Liga and 62 points in the scoring charts. His first thought is for his teammates, who then join him on stage for the award ceremony along with coach Xabi Alonso and president Florentino Perez. Afterwards, Mbappé calmly and relaxed answers questions from ESM (European Sports Media) journalists, including Sports Predictions dello Sport, exclusively for Italy, which organizes the Golden Boot.

What did you dream of as a child?

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to score lots of goals. I think every child who starts playing soccer dreams of scoring, of doing it many times. This is a very important award and it makes me very happy, but everyone knows that collective results are the most important. I hope to win another Golden Boot in the future, but above all, I hope we win the championship. My goal this year is to continue on the same path with the team. If we win La Liga and I get another Golden Boot, I’ll be even happier than I am now.”

You’ve scored a lot of goals in Madrid so far: which one do you choose?

“I usually always say the last one, but this time I’d choose the first one, because it was my first goal at the Bernabéu (September 1, 2024, ed.). It was a special feeling against Betis, the first of many goals I hope to score in this stadium. It was a moment that marked the beginning of my history at the Bernabéu and left me with a very fond memory.“ Do you see yourself more as a 10 or a 9? ”I remember that on the day of my presentation, when I was asked, I said that I wasn’t interested in the exact position. I’m a striker who can play in different positions and score from anywhere. In the end, I just aim for the goal. I prefer to let others describe who I am. My goal is to do my job and do it well, regardless of the position the coach puts me in.”

Has anything changed since you won the World Cup in 2018?

“I hope I’ve changed, because that’s the normal evolution of a soccer player. You always have to improve. It would be a problem if I were the same as I was seven years ago. I think that with everything I’ve achieved and the mistakes I’ve made, I’ve learned and become the player and person I am today. Change is positive, as long as it’s for the better, and I’m no longer the same as before.“

What is the difference between PSG and Real Madrid?

”They are very different clubs with different histories. PSG is a much younger club, while Real Madrid is much older and has a deeper history. The culture is also different. Without a doubt, Real Madrid is the best club in the world, but Paris is also among the best. They are two different ways of understanding soccer, and I am proud to have been part of both.”

Do you think you can improve on Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers here?

“I don’t know how to answer that question. Everyone knows that Cristiano is a benchmark in Madrid, the number one. I’ve been here for a year and a half and he’s been here for nine seasons. I can’t compare myself to what he’s done. My path is different. Just being mentioned alongside Cristiano is a source of pride, but I’m only thinking about making my own way, helping the team, and winning as many titles as possible.”

Are you surprised by Arda Güler’s class?

“No, I’m not surprised. He’s a young player with a lot of talent, ready to help the team. He’s had an impressive start to the season for his age. He has a magical touch that enchants the fans at the Bernabéu. I just hope he continues like this, because he can be very important for us and I’m happy to play alongside him.”

Champions League, World Cup, Ballon d’Or… What are your goals for this year?

“I’m very competitive, I want to fight for everything. I don’t have to choose just one goal. It will be difficult, but I want to win everything and give my all in every competition.”

How do you stay focused for 90 minutes and remain at 100%?

“We’re never at 100%. There’s always something that prevents you from giving your all, but that’s no excuse. My goal is always to give the best version of myself, respect the club, the fans, and the team, and prepare myself as best I can. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not, but you have to give your all.“

How is your relationship with Xabi Alonso?

”I’ve had many coaches and I’m used to everyone having their own philosophy and style. Xabi is different from Ancelotti, he has his own way of working and little by little we are understanding what he wants. You can see on the pitch that we have improved since the start of the season, even if we still have room for improvement. We haven’t won anything yet, but we are on the right track and hope to win as many titles as possible.“

Do you have any goal targets for this year after scoring 31 in the last La Liga and 44 last season?

”No, I’ve never set myself a limit. My goal is to take every opportunity to score and help the team. The more goals I score, the more titles we can win. My priority is always to contribute to the team, whether it’s scoring goals or doing anything else that helps us win. That’s the most important thing, and I’ll do it 100%.”