After years of anticipation, Kylian Mbappe finally wore the iconic all-white Real Madrid jersey on Tuesday, July 16. Thousands of Madridistas gathered at the revamped Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to welcome their latest Galactico, giving him a warm reception. As per Los Blancos, the Bernabeu saw a full house on Tuesday, making it one of the most attended player unveilings in soccer history. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest player unveilings and see where Mbappe’s ranks. Here are the top five highest-attended player unveilings in the sport’s history.
#5 Ricardo Kaka (Real Madrid): 50,000+ Fans
Ricardo Kaka joined Real Madrid from AC Milan in 2009, receiving a warm welcome from over 50,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Despite struggles with injuries and fierce competition, Kaka played 120 games for Real Madrid, winning one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Supercopa de Espana.
#4 Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors): 65,000+ Fans
In 2015, Carlos Tevez returned to Boca Juniors from SH Shenhua after playing for just a year. Over 65,000 fans flocked to the La Bombonera Stadium to celebrate his comeback. Tevez played a total of 279 games for Boca Juniors, scoring 94 goals.
#3 Diego Maradona (Napoli): 75,000+ Fans
Diego Maradona joined Napoli in 1984 and led the club to major silverware, including two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup. His arrival drew over 75,000 Napoli fans to San Paolo to herald his signing. Maradona played 257 games for Napoli, scoring 115 goals before departing in 1992.
#2 Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): 80,000+ Fans
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid after leaving PSG and was welcomed by more than 80,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Mbappe has big shoes to fill after his impressive stint with PSG, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): 80,000+ Fans
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 saw over 80,000 fans cheering for him at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. During his time at Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored 451 goals in 438 games, winning numerous titles including two La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.
