From Ronaldo to Mbappe: Dream debuts for Real Madrid’s Super Rookies

On the occasion of Kylian Mbappe’s impressive debut with Real Madrid, let’s look back at the memorable debut moments of the super rookies in the history of the Spanish Royal team.

On August 15, 2024, Kylian Mbappe had a memorable debut for Real Madrid when he scored the decisive goal, helping his team win 2-0 against Atalanta in the European Super Cup match.

Mbappe’s impressive performance not only marked the perfect start to his new journey at the Santiago Bernabeu, but also recalled other memorable debuts of Real Madrid’s super rookies in the past.

1. Grandmother (2009)

Kaka joined Real Madrid in the 2009/2010 season from AC Milan with the expectation of becoming a mainstay of Los Blancos. The talented Brazilian midfielder made his official debut at the Santiago Bernabeu in a match against Deportivo on August 29, 2009.

Despite not scoring in his first game, Kaka quickly proved his worth by scoring his first goal in September 2009, in a 2–0 win over Villarreal.

Kaka came to Real Madrid with great expectations placed on him

With his superb technique, excellent ability to create and score goals, Kaka has created a fearsome attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

In total, he scored 29 goals for Real Madrid and won the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. However, a series of injuries prevented Kaka from reaching his full potential as he did in Serie A.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (2009)

Joining Real Madrid with Kaka in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo made a memorable debut on 29 August 2009 in the opening La Liga match against Deportivo. The Portuguese superstar did not disappoint fans when he scored from the penalty spot, contributing to the home team’s 3-2 victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores on his debut against Real Madrid

Since then, Ronaldo has become a symbol of Real Madrid, racking up countless goals, trophies and records during his nine years at the Spanish giants. He has won two La Liga titles and four Champions League titles, and is the club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in 438 appearances.

Ronaldo’s impressive debut really opened up an era of great success for both himself and Real Madrid.

3. Jude Bellingham (2023)

Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023 for £88.5m. The young English midfielder had a dream debut, scoring in the 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the opening La Liga match.

Bellingham not only scored but also showed his ability to dictate the game, with impressive numbers for tackles, blocks and successful dribbles. This performance affirmed the 20-year-old’s talent and maturity, and opened up expectations for a bright future for him at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bellingham’s famous celebration dates back to his Real Madrid debut

Since joining Real Madrid last year, Bellingham has had an impressive record: 23 goals, 14 assists, winning La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.

He also won numerous individual awards including La Liga Player of the Year, Golden Boy and Kopa Awards. Bellingham’s impressive debut was the start of a hugely successful season for Los Blancos.

4. Kylian Mbappe (2024)

Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid’s newest super rookie, had a memorable debut in the early morning of August 15, 2024 in the European Super Cup match against Atalanta. The French striker scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute, sealing a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid and helping the team win the first title of the new season.

This performance of Mbappe not only affirmed his class but also showed his quick integration into Real Madrid’s playing style. The debut goal also helped Mbappe win the first European title of his career, after 7 Ligue 1 championships with PSG and Monaco.

Mbappe scored in his first match with Los Blancos.

Looking back at the journey of Real Madrid’s super rookies, from Kaka to Mbappe, we can see the great expectations and pressure placed on each star’s shoulders when joining the Milky Way. Each player had impressive debuts, but the road ahead is full of challenges.

Kaka, despite his talent, was unable to reach his full potential due to injury. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has surpassed all expectations to become a club legend. Bellingham, with his remarkable maturity, is also on the right track to becoming a mainstay of Real Madrid in the future.

For Mbappe, a successful debut is just the beginning. Time will tell whether he can follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps and become the new symbol of Real Madrid.

But one thing is certain, with his talent and class, Mbappe is ready to write new history for the Spanish Royal team.