Mbappé receives Champions League Golden Boot from Luís Figo

Kylian Mbappé was honoured on the Santiago Bernabéu pitch shortly before Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter. The French forward received the trophy recognising him as the competition’s leading scorer in 2025/26, with Luís Figo presenting the award.

The choice of presenter tied the entire occasion together. Figo played for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter during his career, representing both teams involved in the match and Madrid’s biggest domestic rival.

FIFTEEN GOALS FROM ELEVEN MATCHES

Mbappé finished last season’s Champions League with 15 goals in 11 appearances. Harry Kane followed with 14, while Julián Álvarez, Anthony Gordon and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ended the campaign on ten each.

Thirteen of Mbappé’s goals came during the league phase. He scored twice against Marseille, Monaco and Benfica, completed a hat-trick away to Kairat Almaty and struck all four Madrid goals in the 4-3 victory over Olympiacos.

He added another goal in each leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich. Madrid did not progress, but Mbappé’s tally remained out of reach.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals in a single Champions League season. The Portuguese great registered 17 in 2013/14 and 16 in 2015/16.

FIGO RETURNS AS A MADRID LEGEND

Figo spent five years at Barcelona before completing his controversial transfer to Real Madrid in 2000. He became the first major signing of Florentino Pérez’s original “Galácticos” project and helped Madrid win the Champions League in 2002.

More than 25 years after leaving Barcelona, he returned to the Bernabéu in his established role as a Real Madrid icon. This time, his job was to hand an individual award to the current leader of Madrid’s attack.

Barcelona had no direct involvement in the ceremony, yet its name was inevitably brought into the picture by Figo’s presence. Some transfers remain uncomfortable long after the paperwork has disappeared into the archives.

MBAPPÉ ADDS ANOTHER GOAL

The award recognised Mbappé’s work from the previous campaign, but he did not wait long to begin building his next total. Fourteen minutes into the match against Inter, he converted Brahim Díaz’s pass to give Madrid the lead.

Federico Valverde scored Madrid’s second before Carlos Augusto reduced the deficit for Inter. José Mourinho’s team protected the advantage and opened its Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory.

The trophy presented to Mbappé recognises the Champions League’s leading scorer. It is separate from the European Golden Shoe, which is based on goals scored in domestic league competitions.