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Mbappé becomes youngest to 100 Champions League appearances at 27
Kylian Mbappé became the youngest player to reach 100 Champions League appearances at 27 years and 298 days, breaking Lionel Messi's previous record. The Real Madrid forward scored in a 4–3 victory over Roma and moved into fifth place on the competition's all-time goalscorers list with 72 goals.
Quick Facts
- Mbappé reached 100 Champions League appearances
- Mbappé scored in a 4–3 Real Madrid victory over Roma
- Mbappé moved into sole fifth place on the all-time Champions League scoring chart
- Mbappé surpassed Messi's record as youngest to 100 Champions League games
- Courtois became the first Belgian to reach 100 Champions League appearances
Kylian Mbappé reached 100 Champions League appearances at age 27 years and 298 days on Wednesday, becoming the youngest player in history to achieve the milestone. The Real Madrid forward surpassed Lionel Messi's previous record of 28 years and 84 days, which Messi set against Roma in September 2015. Mbappé lined up at centre forward in José Mourinho's starting lineup for the match at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Mbappé scored in Real Madrid's 4–3 comeback victory over Roma, bringing his Champions League tally to 72 goals in 100 games. That strike moved him into sole fifth place on the competition's all-time scoring chart, surpassing Real Madrid legend Raúl González (71 goals). Mbappé made his Champions League debut as a 17-year-old with Monaco in September 2016 and has since played for Paris Saint-Germain before joining Real Madrid in 2024.
In comparative terms at the 100-game mark, Mbappé sits between two all-time greats: Lionel Messi had 77 goals and Cristiano Ronaldo had 66 goals after their respective century appearances. Robert Lewandowski scored 81 goals through his first 100 Champions League games. Mbappé led the Champions League scoring chart last season with 15 goals, including the second-fastest hat-trick in competition history—three goals in 6 minutes and 42 seconds against Olympiacos.
Despite his individual record-breaking achievements, Mbappé has not won the Champions League. He came closest with Paris Saint-Germain in the 2019–20 season, when PSG lost 1–0 in the final to Bayern Munich. Since joining Real Madrid in 2024, the team has not progressed past the quarterfinals. Mbappé told CBS Sports that winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is what he wants "more than anything."
Thibaut Courtois, Mbappé's Real Madrid teammate, became the first Belgian to reach 100 Champions League appearances during the same season. Raúl González remains the first player ever to reach the 100-appearance landmark, achieving the feat on February 21, 2006, at age 28.
Topics
Why This Matters
Mbappé's record marks a measurable shift in European football's performance benchmarks: he reached 100 Champions League games 386 days earlier than Messi, and at the same milestone, has scored 72 goals compared to Messi's 77 and Ronaldo's 66. This affects commentary on generational player development and scouting patterns—achieving elite competition volume and output at a younger age suggests changes in how top clubs rotate and deploy talent. Real Madrid's immediate focus now centers on converting Mbappé's individual output into a Champions League title; the club has not won the competition since 2018, and Mbappé has explicitly stated this is his priority.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2024
WireMbappé joined Real Madrid
Related Signals
Sources
- Mbappé beats Messi's record to become youngest with 100 Champions League appearancesYahoo SportsMediaOct 14, 2026
- Without scoring: Mbappe outdoes Messi in the Champions LeagueGoal.comMediaOct 14, 2026
- How Kylian Mbappe Compares to Messi, Ronaldo After 100 Champions League MatchesSports IllustratedMediaOct 15, 2026
- UCL: Mbappé breaks Messi’s record as youngest to reach 100 Champions League gamesPunch NewspapersMediaOct 14, 2026