Mbappé equals Messi’s benchmark as Bellingham escapes punishment for referee rant in Real Madrid win

Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappé made La Liga history on Saturday, equaling a significant record held by Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, Soccernet.footbal reports.

In Real Madrid’s latest 4-1 comeback win over Espanyol, Mbappé endured a challenging night but managed to deliver when it mattered most.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured their fourth consecutive victory in the Spanish top flight, with the final scoreline flattering a game that was tighter for much of the evening.

Mbappé, while frustrated for much of the match, got his moment of redemption late on, when the young Brazilian, Endrick, won a penalty.

The Frenchman confidently stepped up to convert, sealing Real Madrid’s triumph and writing his name into the La Liga history books.

Statisticians at StatMuse revealed that Mbappé matched an impressive record held by Messi since 2020.

Only two players in the past decade have managed to fire nine shots and create seven chances in a single La Liga game. The first was Messi, against Levante. The second? Mbappé, against Espanyol on Saturday.

“Kylian Mbappé vs Espanyol: 9 shots, 7 chances created. Only one player has put up those numbers in a single La Liga game this decade: Leo Messi vs Levante in 2020,” reported StatMuse.

Despite some criticism that Mbappé is yet to truly set La Liga alight, his contribution on Saturday underscores his continued efforts and undeniable influence.

Meanwhile, his teammate Jude Bellingham found himself in hot water during the same match after being shown a late yellow card.

The England international responded with an explicit outburst aimed at referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero, which was caught on camera.

However, Bellingham will face no further disciplinary action for the incident.

Marca reports that the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has decided not to pursue any post-match punishment, meaning Bellingham remains available for Real Madrid’s next fixture against Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.