Kylian Mbappé dazzled at the Bernabéu on Thursday night, showcasing his skills with a brilliant solo goal that he scored after dribbling from his own half. This stunning effort helped Real Madrid secure a 5-2 victory over Celta Vigo in extra time during the Copa del Rey.

Despite his impressive tally of 16 goals since joining Carlo Ancelotti’s squad on a free transfer last summer, the French star has faced criticism. Recently, former Manchester United player Patrice Evra suggested that Mbappé is overhyped and shouldn’t be compared to Thierry Henry.

However, Mbappé silenced the doubters with his performance on Thursday, picking up the ball in his own half and driving into the box before finishing from a tight angle to open the scoring. When Vinícius Jr. added a second goal shortly after halftime, it seemed like a comfortable night for the European champions.

Celta Vigo, however, made a comeback with late goals from Jonathan Bamba and Marcos Alonso, forcing the match into extra time.

In the additional period, Brazilian teenager Endrick came off the bench to score twice, with Federico Valverde also finding the net, ensuring Real’s progression to the quarter-finals. Endrick dedicated his goals to teammate Antonio Rüdiger, who has been a significant source of support for him in recent weeks.

Though Endrick has struggled for game time with Mbappé in the squad and has been linked with a move away from the Bernabéu, he expressed his determination to fight for his place. “He (Rüdiger) knows what he does with me every day,” the 18-year-old said. “He never compliments me, and that’s not a bad thing. He pushes me to keep fighting.”

With a busy month ahead, Real Madrid will need all the momentum they can gather. They face Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday, aiming to overtake Atlético Madrid, who currently lead the table by a point. Following that, they will take on RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday, desperately needing points as they sit at the bottom of the standings.