Kylian was honored at the Bernabéu as last season’s top European scorer, in the presence of his teammates—who joined him on stage—along with President Florentino Pérez and coach Xabi Alonso: “Differences between PSG and Real? I’m proud to have been part of both.”

“Thank you to all my teammates for bringing out the best in me. We have an incredible team and we can win a lot.” In the heart of the Bernabéu, Kylian Mbappé, 26, elegantly dressed in black, received his first Golden Boot for the 2024–25 season, which he finished as Europe’s top scorer with 31 goals in La Liga and 62 points in the scoring standings. His first thoughts go out to his teammates, who then join him on the awards stage alongside coach Xabi Alonso and president Florentino Pérez. Afterward, Mbappé calmly and relaxed answers questions from journalists with the ESM (European Sports Media), including Sports Predictions from *Lo Sport*—which covers the event exclusively for Italy—the organization behind 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 kid who starts playing soccer dreams of scoring—of doing it over and over again. This is a very important award and it makes me very happy, but everyone knows that team results are the most important. I hope to win another Golden Boot in the future, but above all, I hope we win the league. My goal this year is to keep up the same momentum 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 so many goals in Madrid so far: which one do you choose?

“I usually say the most recent 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 moment against Betis—the first of many goals I hope to score in this stadium. It was a moment that marked the beginning of my story at the Bernabéu and left me with a very fond memory.“

Do you see yourself more as a No. 10 or a No. 9?

”I remember that on the day of my presentation, when I was asked, I said I wasn’t concerned with the exact position. I’m a forward who can play in different positions and score from anywhere. In the end, I’m just focused on the goal. I’d rather 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 natural 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 I was before.“

What’s the difference between PSG and Real Madrid?

”They’re very different clubs, with different histories. PSG is a much younger club, while Real Madrid is much older and has a richer history. The culture is different, too. Without a doubt, Real Madrid is the best club in the world, but Paris is also among the best. They represent two different approaches to soccer, and I’m proud to have been a part of both.”

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

“I don’t know how to answer that question. Everyone knows that Cristiano is a legend 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 accomplished. My path is different. Just being mentioned alongside Cristiano is a source of pride, but I’m only focused on forging my own path, helping the team, and winning as many titles as possible.”

Surprised by Arda Güler’s class?

“No, I’m not surprised. He’s a young, very talented player, ready to help the team. He’s had an impressive start to the season for his age. He has a magical touch that captivates the fans at the Bernabéu. I just hope he keeps it up, because he can be very important to 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’ll be difficult, but I want to win it all and give my all in every competition.”

How do you stay focused for 90 minutes and maintain 100% effort?

“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 be the best version of myself, to respect the club, the fans, and the team, and to prepare as well as I can. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not, but you have to give it your all.”

What’s your relationship like with Xabi Alonso?

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

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

“No, I’ve never set a specific number as a limit for myself. My goal is to seize 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 that’s scoring goals or doing whatever else it takes to help us win. That’s the most important thing, and I’ll give it 100 percent.”