Kylian Mbappé has broken Lionel Messi’s record to become the youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, achieving the milestone during Real Madrid’s dramatic 4-3 victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
The French forward reached the landmark at the age of 27 years and 298 days when he featured for Real Madrid against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy on October 14, 2026.
Mbappé’s achievement surpassed the previous record held by Argentine superstar Messi, who made his 100th Champions League appearance at the age of 28 years and 84 days while playing against Roma in September 2015.
Remarkably, both players reached the century mark against the Italian club, adding an unusual connection between two of the most influential forwards of their generation.
Mbappé also marked the occasion with a goal, scoring Real Madrid’s equaliser in the first half as the Spanish giants battled their way back into the contest.
The forward’s strike helped Madrid remain within reach after Roma had taken control of the match. The hosts eventually established a 3-1 advantage, putting the visitors under considerable pressure before a late comeback secured a memorable 4-3 victory for the Spanish side.
The result gave Mbappé an unforgettable night, combining an individual career milestone with a dramatic team performance in Europe’s premier club competition.
Mbappé began his Champions League journey as a teenager with AS Monaco, making his debut in September 2016 when he was just 17 years old. His performances at Monaco attracted attention across European football before he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he developed into one of the continent’s most prolific attackers.
He subsequently joined Real Madrid, continuing his pursuit of individual records and major honours at one of football’s most successful clubs.
His century of appearances includes matches for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. According to UEFA’s competition statistics, he reached 100 appearances with nine games for Monaco, 64 for Paris Saint-Germain and 27 for Real Madrid.
The milestone also made Mbappé the fifth French player to reach 100 Champions League appearances, placing him among an exclusive group of players who have sustained their influence at the highest level of European club football.
His achievement comes after an outstanding scoring campaign in the previous season, when he finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer with 15 goals.
Among the highlights was his remarkable hat-trick against Olympiacos, during which he scored three times in six minutes and 42 seconds. The feat placed him among the players responsible for the fastest hat-tricks in the competition’s history.
Mbappé’s growing record in the tournament reflects his consistency in front of goal and his ability to deliver decisive performances against elite opposition.
Messi, whose previous age record has now been surpassed, remains one of the Champions League’s most accomplished players. The Argentine reached 163 appearances in the competition during his European career, having represented Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Former Real Madrid captain Raúl González was the first player to reach 100 Champions League appearances. He achieved the milestone on February 21, 2006, when he came on as a substitute during Madrid’s 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal.
Since then, the competition has featured numerous centurions, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Thomas Müller, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski.
Mbappé’s achievement places him among these established names, although reaching 100 appearances is only one measure of a player’s contribution to the competition. Goals, assists, trophies and decisive performances also form part of the wider picture when assessing a player’s European career.
The French international will now look to build on the landmark as Real Madrid continue their Champions League campaign. With his scoring ability and experience against leading European sides, he remains an important figure in the club’s pursuit of continental success.
For now, his appearance against Roma has secured him a place in the competition’s record books, ending Messi’s reign as the youngest player to reach 100 Champions League matches.
