On the Night Real Madrid Routed Leipzig, Mbappe Drew Level with Zidane — Now Only Benzema Stands Ahead

Real Madrid made it a night to remember by beating RB Leipzig 4-1 in the Champions League. Alongside contributing a goal and an assist in his team's win, Kylian Mbappe wrote his name beside French legend Zinedine Zidane. Now only Karim Benzema's record stands in front of him.

At the Santiago Bernabeu, Leipzig simply could not stand up to Real's commanding performance. The Spanish giants dominated on their home ground from the start, and that dominance was reflected in the big 4-1 victory.

In the 52nd minute, Mbappe delivered a perfect headed pass to Arda Guler to set up his team's second goal. It was that moment of directly creating a teammate's goal that placed him beside Zidane in the history books.

Then, seven minutes before the end of regulation time — in the 83rd minute — the French forward found the net himself. Goal and assist: he shone in both roles on the night.

According to statistics organisation Opta, Mbappe's tally of assists in Champions League history now stands at 26. Among French players, he sits second on the list of all-time assist providers in this competition.

Until now, France's World Cup-winning footballer Zinedine Zidane had held second place alone with the same 26 assists. With the assist against Leipzig, Mbappe has drawn level with him — two stars from two generations of French football now stand in the same row.

At the very top of the list is Mbappe's former teammate Karim Benzema, who has 27 Champions League assists. Mbappe therefore needs just one more assist to draw level with Benzema's record; that one would put him joint top, and the next would make him the outright leader.

Thierry Henry, fourth among French players, has 25 assists. In catching Zidane, Mbappe has also moved past Henry, and the final contest at the summit of the list is now confined to him and Benzema.

The win over Leipzig takes Real Madrid's Champions League points tally to nine. Paris Saint-Germain, however, top the standings on goal difference with the same points, while Real sit fourth.

After the defeat, Leipzig remain on three points in 29th place. The rest of the league-phase road has therefore become even harder for the German club.

For Mbappe, then, this was not merely a night of victory, but a night that further cemented his place in French football history. In the matches ahead, all eyes will be on one question: when does he draw level with Benzema's 27 assists — and when does he go past him?