Kylian Mbappe overtakes Ronaldo's Real Madrid record with Villarreal brace | OneFootball

"I don't want to score a goal and just go home," Kylian Mbappe insisted at the start of this, his much-anticipated and long-awaited first season for Real Madrid.

The Frenchman brought his tally up to 31 goals across all competitions with a stunning brace against Villarreal on Saturday and there is very little chance anyone at Real Madrid will let him leave anytime soon. Mbappe's glut now ensures that he has scored more goals than the legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo managed during his debut campaign for the capital club - only three players in history boast more and all could still be surpassed by May.

Mbappe now seems as though he is already home - but that hasn't always been the case.

Most goals in a debut season for Real Madrid (all competitions)

Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a fast start to his Real Madrid career / Denis Doyle/GettyImages

Stats according to ESPN.

When Mbappe had a second-half spot kick saved by Julen Agirrezabala in a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club in December - his second penalty rebuffed in the space of seven days - the 26-year-old hit "rock bottom", to use his own words. "I realised that I had to give my all for this shirt," he reflected. "Play with personality."

Mbappe had scored ten goals across his first 20 Madrid appearances before sinking to new depths at San Mames. Saturday's brace against Villarreal ensures that he has racked up 21 across the subsequent 24 outings.

Rather than merely stat-padding, these strikes have been crucial. Mbappe scored all three goals in the decisive Champions League knockout tie against Manchester City and January's league win over Real Valladolid - a club which just so happens to count Ronaldo as its owner and president.

This weekend's 2-1 triumph over Villarreal was also pivotal, hauling Real Madrid back to La Liga's summit before Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are guaranteed to take points off each other on Sunday night.

Less than 67 hours had elapsed since Real fought their way through 120 gruelling minutes against Atletico in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mbappe played every minute of the controversial victory, coolly converting his spot kick in the triumphant shootout. "From the warm up it was already difficult, we were very tired," the match-winner told reporters after rattling in two unerringly accurate finishes at Villarreal's La Ceramica home.

"But we had to respect the badge," Mbappe continued, "fight until the end and give everything we had." If he continues to play with such purpose, precision and personality until the end of the season, Madrid's No 9 could record the greatest debut season in the club's history.