500-game milestone: The rise of football's next king

The Olympus of world football is filled with great figures who have made this sport greater over the years. Players who have defined generations and are still alive in the memory of the most passionate football fans.

We could spend hours discussing who the main references are or who has left the biggest impact throughout history. However, that time could be better spent enjoying what the future holds, and without a doubt, Kylian Mbappe's name must appear there.

On Sunday, the French footballer reached the remarkable milestone of 500 competitive matches. He achieved this with the French national team, with whom he has played 88 matches, scoring 48 goals and providing 29 assists.

He played 308 games with PSG, the club where he exploded onto the scene, scoring 256 goals and providing 94 assists. He played 60 games with Monaco, the team that saw him rise and has accumulated 44 matches with Real Madrid, his new home, where he hopes to mark an era and become a legend of one of the best clubs in the world. So far, he has scored 31 goals and provided five assists this season.

The birth of a star

After playing for Monaco's youth teams, Kylian Mbappe made his mark on the football world on December 2, 2015, at the young age of 16 years and 347 days, setting a new record for precocity at his club, breaking Thierry Henry's record that had stood for 21 years.

It didn't take long for him to score his first professional goal. On February 20, 2016, he netted in a win against Troyes. Shortly after, he became a full-fledged member of the first team. A legend was born.

Mbappe continued to make a name for himself with incredible performances. On December 14, 2016, he scored his first career hat-trick, and on February 21, 2017, he made his Champions League debut as a scorer in a loss to Manchester City, becoming the second youngest French player to score in the competition, after Benzema, at just 17 years and 282 days.

In his first full season, the forward finished with 26 goals and eight assists in 44 matches, playing a key role in Monaco's title win 17 years later. He also won the 2017 Golden Boy award.

PSG: A global showcase and consummation

Mbappe kept progressing rapidly and on August 31, 2017, he signed with PSG. Initially on loan, the deal included an obligatory purchase for 180 million euros the following year.

His debut with the team from his city could not have been more spectacular as he played his first match on September 8, 2017, and scored his first goal. Just four days later, he made his Champions League debut.

The 26-year-old kept breaking records with the Parisian team, and nothing could stop him. In summary, he is the greatest legend in the club's history: all-time top scorer (256 goals), second-best assist provider (94), most doubles (51), most hat tricks (12), most times scoring first (75) and the player whose goals have given PSG the most victories (23).

He is also the club's all-time top scorer in both the Champions League, with 42 goals, and in Ligue 1, with 175. In terms of titles, Mbappe has lifted 16 trophies with PSG.

Les Bleus skipper

The Frenchman has not only made waves at club level but has also become one of the most prominent players in the history of the French national team.

And that is no small feat. With 88 matches, 48 goals and 29 assists, he is now third on France’s all-time top scorer list, with two legends, Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (57), within reach. Additionally, following Hugo Lloris' retirement, and at just 26 years old, he has become the captain of his national team.

Mbappe's story with France began on March 25, 2017, eight years ago. His first goal came several months later, in August, against the Netherlands. From there, he began writing the history of his country.

His greatest moment came in 2018 when Didier Deschamps included him in the final squad for the World Cup in Russia. It was his first major tournament with the senior team, and he played every match, crowning himself champion at just 19 years old.

To top it off, he scored one of the goals in the final against Croatia, becoming the second-youngest scorer in a World Cup final, behind Pelé, and the Frenchman to do so at the youngest age.

Despite that, Mbappe has also had difficult moments with France. In the 2020 European Championship - held in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Frenchman missed the penalty that led to France's elimination against Switzerland in the last 16.

However, he won the first edition of the Nations League, scoring and assisting in the final against Spain, but he fell short again in another World Cup, specifically in the final against Argentina.

Nevertheless, that tournament left a great memory for him. He won the Golden Boot for the tournament with eight goals and scored an iconic hat trick in the final, becoming the second player in history to achieve this after Geoff Hurst in 1966. An absolute hero's feat.

While his participation in Euro 2024 was somewhat of a failure, his performances in the World Cup are noteworthy, as he is the second all-time top scorer for France with 12 goals, just one behind Fontaine.

Destined to make history at Madrid

After several failed attempts, Kylian Mbappe's dream was fulfilled last June. The French forward signed for Real Madrid and made his debut on August 14 in the UEFA Super Cup, where he also scored his first goal for the club.

Despite a questioned performance in the early stages of the season, Mbappe is now the club's top scorer this term, with 31 goals in 44 matches. He has also provided five assists.

The Frenchman is currently neck and neck with Robert Lewandowski in the race for the Pichichi Trophy in La Liga, and he ranks eighth in the Golden Boot standings, a prestigious award he has yet to win, although he came close in 2023.

His improvement this year has been notable. He is the second-highest scorer of 2025, with 17 goals, only behind Ousmane Dembele. Much of Real Madrid's aspirations for titles will depend on his performances.

His future challenges

His hunger is insatiable. The Frenchman is one of the best forwards in the world and, as such, wants to compete and win every title at stake. Undoubtedly, one of his main obsessions is the Champions League, a competition that has so far eluded him, with the notable exception of the 2020 final loss with PSG.

For this, he has joined the most successful club in this competition, so the challenge is set. On an individual level, Mbappe has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or every year since 2017, with his best finish in 2023. There's no doubt that a major title would open the doors to this prestigious award.

Finally, the player has his sights set on next year's World Cup, in 2026. It will be his third World Cup at such a young age, and he will aim for his second trophy to join an exclusive list led by Pele with three titles. Mbappe still has a whole career ahead of him to continue growing his legend.