No Portuguese player has ever scored for Real Madrid since Ronaldo in 2018, until Bernardo Silva against Leipzig

Bernardo Silva has finally scored his first goal for Real Madrid, and the milestone carries an unexpected connection to Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure eight years ago. The Portuguese midfielder opened his account during Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig on October 21, becoming the first Portuguese player to score a competitive goal for the club since Ronaldo’s final strike in May 2018.Bernardo Silva makes his mark in Madrid’s Champions League winSilva scored Real Madrid’s opening goal against RB Leipzig in the Champions League league phase, registering his first goal since joining the Spanish club as a free agent in the summer of 2026. Madrid eventually won 4-1, although the scoreline followed a first half in which Leipzig threatened repeatedly and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made important saves.Madrid improved after the interval, with Arda Güler extending the lead in the 52nd minute and Kylian Mbappé making it 3-0 in the 83rd. Tidiam Gomis pulled one back for Leipzig two minutes later, before former Leipzig defender Yan Diomandé completed the scoring with a spectacular volley in the 87th minute.Speaking to Real Madrid’s media after the match, Silva said he was pleased to have scored and helped secure the victory, while acknowledging that his side had been more convincing after half-time.“I am very happy to have won this game and scored my first goal with this jersey,” he said. “It was a tough match, where I think we were much better in the second half than in the first.”Silva also said Madrid were still working to find the right balance between keeping possession, creating opportunities for their forwards and playing with the intensity expected of the club.Ronaldo’s final Madrid goal came in May 2018Silva’s breakthrough ended a long wait for a Portuguese player to score competitively for Real Madrid, with Ronaldo the last to do so before him. Ronaldo’s final goal for the club came on May 19, 2018, during a 2-2 draw against Villarreal in Madrid’s final La Liga match of that season.The goal was his 450th for Real Madrid, arriving in the 32nd minute through a precise header from a cross delivered by Marcelo, his long-time teammate and close friend. It was Ronaldo’s final goal, but not his last appearance for the club.A week later, on May 26, Ronaldo played in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final, helping the team lift the trophy before leaving that summer. He had joined Madrid in 2009 and spent nine seasons there, becoming the club’s leading scorer before moving to Juventus.Silva, meanwhile, arrived in Madrid after seven successful seasons with Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. His first Madrid goal now places him in a small piece of the club’s Portuguese history, following the era defined by Ronaldo.Silva says he is ready to help ahead of El ClásicoSilva’s first goal comes as Madrid prepare for a major domestic test against Barcelona. The teams are scheduled to meet in El Clásico on October 25, with the match beginning at 9pm local time, or 1.30am IST on October 26.Madrid have won all three of their Champions League league-phase matches, against Inter Milan, Roma and Leipzig, and sit fourth with nine points. The Barcelona match offers a different challenge, with José Mourinho’s side still seeking to sharpen its tactical balance while bringing together its attacking players.Silva said he would continue working and remain ready whenever Mourinho chose to use him, whether for a brief appearance or the full match.“I keep working. I’m ready to help this club,” he said. “Whether it’s one minute, five, ten, or ninety… I’ll be training well, helping the group, and the day the coach feels he needs me, I’ll be ready.”For Silva, the Leipzig goal was a personal milestone, but the immediate focus has shifted to Barcelona, with Madrid needing the same composure and control in a fixture that could influence the early La Liga title race.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.