Kylian Mbappe enjoyed an exceptional beginning to his Real Madrid tenure, netting on his debut to contribute to the team's victory in the European Super Cup on Wednesday. Mbappe's strike, which he placed into the top corner following a pass from Jude Bellingham, extended Real's advantage in their 2-0 triumph against Atalanta.
"We never discussed whether he would score; we simply assumed it would happen," said Bellingham, who was awarded man of the match. "He's a player who crafts his own legacy... He consistently performs for his team, and he did so again tonight." Mbappe, who scored 44 goals for Paris St Germain last season, secured his maiden European trophy, having previously won seven Ligue 1 titles with both PSG and Monaco. His closest brush with European success was in 2019-20 when PSG reached the Champions League final, only to be defeated 1-0 by Bayern Munich.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Mbappe's integration, stating, "He adapted very well to the team. He linked up effectively with Vinicius Junior and Bellingham. We possess considerable talent, but it's crucial that we play as a unit, which we did tonight." Following the match, Mbappe, visibly moved, expressed his joy at securing his first continental trophy.
"It was an incredible night. It's a significant moment for me, and we claimed a title, which is vital – at Madrid, winning is always the goal," Mbappe remarked. "I'm extremely pleased, especially with the goal – it's crucial for a striker like me. But the greatest joy has been the opportunity to play alongside this team." Mbappe's contribution also saw Ancelotti match Miguel Munoz's record of 14 major trophies as Real Madrid's coach, a feat achieved by Munoz during his tenure from 1948 to 1958.
