Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Kylian Mbappe has what it takes to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary status at the club. However, he made it clear that achieving such a feat will require serious dedication and hard work.

The Italian coach acknowledged that matching Ronaldo’s impact is no small task but expressed confidence in the French forward’s potential. Speaking about Mbappe’s recent performance, Ancelotti emphasized that while the striker has the quality, it will take effort and consistency to reach the same heights.

“Mbappe has a lot of talent and can reach Cristiano’s level, but Ronaldo set the bar extremely high,” Ancelotti said. “He’s just starting his journey at Madrid, and he’s excited, but it won’t be easy—he has to put in the work. Everyone was waiting for this hat-trick from him, and now it has finally come.”

The coach also pointed out that while Mbappe is a key player, he isn’t the only one capable of making a difference on the pitch. “We have many players who contribute, not just through individual brilliance but also through teamwork,” he added.

Mbappe’s hat-trick helped Real Madrid secure a 3-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League second-leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was his first treble for Los Blancos since joining on a free transfer from PSG in the summer of 2024.

The Frenchman has always been vocal about his admiration for Ronaldo, often calling him his football idol. On the other hand, Ronaldo had previously stated that if he were at Madrid, he would teach Mbappe how to excel as a number nine.

“If I was at Madrid, I’d show him how to play as a number nine. I wasn’t a forward, but I adapted,” Ronaldo said in a recent interview.