Birthday boy Mbappe praises ‘idol’ Ronaldo as Vini Jr gets booed by Real Madrid fans

Suraj Radia

21 Dec 2025 10:00 CST
3 min read

Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid — © IMAGO

Kylian Mbappe paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring a goal on his 27th birthday to help Real Madrid to a 2-0 win over ten-man Sevilla and ease the pressure on manager Xabi Alonso.

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Madrid will go into a two-week winter break on the back of win after Jude Bellingham’s goal and Mbappe’s penalty gave Los Blancos a much-needed win to wrap up 2025.

Current ETV

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

ETV Range

€88.9M - €108.6M

Mbappe crowned his birthday with his 59th goal for Real of the calendar year, equalling Ronaldo’s record, and leading to the Frenchman celebrating his strike by emulating the former Real legend’s iconic ‘siu’ gesture.

Speaking after the game, Mbappe said: "It's incredible, in my first year doing it like Cristiano, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid's history.

“The celebration is for him; I wanted to give him a shout-out because he's always been good to me, he's helped me adapt to Madrid, and now it's great to help Madrid win games. Today I wanted to share that with him.

“I have a very good relationship with him; he's my friend now, and I send my best wishes to him and all Madrid fans, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Mbappe joys matched by Vinicius Junior lows after Real Madrid fan boos

While it was all celebrations for Mbappe, his teammate Vinicius Junior ended his 2025 being jeered by a section of Madridistas after being substituted in the 83rd minute.

© IMAGO - Kylian Mbappe doing Cristiano Ronaldo's 'siu' celebration after scoring for Real Madrid.

The Brazil international has not scored for Real in more than two months and, with rumours still circulating of his discontent with Alonso and over a potential contract renewal, the goal drought appears to have taken its toll on some supporters.

Vini Jr responded by replacing his Instagram profile picture of him holding a Real jersey to one of him wearing a Brazil shirt instead, while also posting a photo with a cryptic caption of three ellipses dots.

“The fans are free to express themselves,” Alonso said of the incident. “It was a complicated match, but I value where the team is, considering the absences, and now we rest.”

Having endured rumours that he would lose his job following the defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, Alonso has led Real to back-to-back wins in La Liga, making Vini’s uncertainty the latest talking point out of Madrid going into the new year.

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