But ahead of Thursday's first-leg clash in Croatia, Mbappe said he was "delighted to be back with the group".

With 31 goals across all competitions this season, Mbappe has now surpassed Brazilian icon Ronaldo’s tally from his debut campaign in 2002-03.

Captain Kylian Mbappe returned to the France squad named Thursday for this month's UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia, as Paris Saint-Germain teenager Desire Doue earned a first call-up.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were both on target for Real Madrid as they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Sunday to pull level with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

A couple of moments of magic from Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz helped Real Madrid edge city rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 Champions League encounter between the sides at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. 

"I said it (before), I didn't come to Real Madrid to play badly," Mbappe, who was named Most Valuable Player of the match, told Movistar after the match.

Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-1 with a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick on Wednesday in their Champions League playoff second leg at a raucous Santiago Bernabeu stadium, earning them a 6-3 aggregate victory and a place in the last 16.

Captain Kylian Mbappe will return to the French national team in March for their Nations League quarter-final matches against Croatia, head coach Didier Deschamps said on Friday.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his side lacks composure to defend a lead after Real Madrid struck twice late on to snatch a 3-2 win from the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

Julian Alvarez dinked home a controversial first half penalty for Atletico but Mbappe was in the right place at the right time to bundle home early in the second half on his first appearance in the tense derby clash.

Kylian Mbappe is showing the form that made Madrid crave his arrival for years as Los Blancos swerve a potential crisis.

Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti was overjoyed with Kylian Mbappe's first hat-trick for the club as they beat bottom side Real Valladolid 3-0 away on Saturday to extend their lead atop LaLiga to four points.

Mbappe has hit his devastating best in recent weeks after struggling for consistency following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Paris Saint-Germain superstar struggled to find his top level after completing his dream move last summer but now has 16 goals in 29 games across all competitions.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday demanded a rapid reaction from his team after their capitulation against rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Last season, around this time, there was a surprise package in Girona in the top three of LaLiga. However, a year later, the Spanish league has returned to the status quo, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid -- the three giants of Spain -- occupying the top three spots on the table at the end of 2024.

The 26-year-old Frenchman netted the opener and set up another goal as Real beat mid-table Sevilla to move up to second place in LaLiga, closing the gap on leaders Atletico Madrid to one point going into the winter break.

Kylian Mbappe scored a screamer and set up another goal as Real Madrid thrashed Sevilla 4-2 on Saturday to move second in La Liga above stuttering rivals Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti warned Real Madrid's La Liga rivals Saturday that superstar striker Kylian Mbappe's adaptation period is now complete.

Mbappe pulled up with a left thigh problem after scoring in last week's 3-2 Champions League win at Atalanta and missed Saturday's 3-3 league draw at Rayo Vallecano.