On Sunday afternoon, Real Madrid fans in the Spanish capital will finally be able to see Kylian Mbappé play in the club’s white shirt at Real Madrid’s home ground, Real Madrid’s stadium.

Many will remember some of his previous appearances at the stadium, including his impressive display for Paris Saint-Germain against Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 in February 2022.

Then some in Madrid assumed Mbappe would join them that summer. Perhaps good things come to those who wait? Newly promoted Real Valladolid — Madrid’s opponents this weekend — may see things differently.

Here, The Athletics Real Madrid correspondents Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai look back at some of the club’s other ‘Galactico’ home debuts, three of which even included an appearance from Usain Bolt.

Luis Figo

Real Madrid – Valencia (September 9, 2000)

Figo’s arrival was one of the most dramatic in football history, coming directly from his Clásico rivals Barcelona, ​​where he was also captain.

During his presentation (three months before his debut), the new Madrid recruit seemed unable to believe he had taken this step. Spanish press reports from the time described him as being in a “state of shock”.

He made his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the UEFA Super Cup, but at the Bernabeu we saw signs that the situation was changing.

Figo left Real Madrid’s great rivals Barcelona for the Bernabeu (Matthew Ashton/EMPICS via Getty Images)

In his first match at the Bernabeu, Figo’s performance was one of desire. He constantly tried to get forward and was a real threat to Valencia’s defence. Although it was not his best night in a Madrid shirt, he helped Madrid to a 2-1 victory over the rivals they had also beaten in the Champions League final a few months earlier. That season, Vicente del Bosque’s team would reach the semi-finals — but they also won La Liga.

Ronaldo

Real Madrid v Alaves (6 October 2002)

After winning the World Cup with Brazil in Japan and South Korea earlier that summer, Ronaldo didn’t make his home debut with Madrid until Matchday 5 of that La Liga season. Named as a substitute, he made a somewhat awkward start, banging his head on the Madrid bench, much to the amusement of his team-mates.

📅✨ ¡Se cumplen 2️⃣0️⃣ años del debut de @Ronaldo like madrid!
⚽⚽ @Alaves
🏟️ Santiago Bernabéu#RealFootball photo.twitter.com/5h1URrHO2t

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) October 6, 2022

After coming onto the pitch in the 63rd minute, he was immediately involved, picking up a ball in the penalty area with his chest and deflecting the ball home with a half-volley. Around 14 minutes later, he found the net again for an impressive brace in a 5-2 win.

On the sidelines, that early laughter was soon matched by the awe and wonder felt in the stands. Ronaldo would be key to a season that saw Madrid win La Liga and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

David Beckham

Real Madrid v Real Mallorca (27 August 2003)

At a time when club president Florentino Perez’s revolutionary Galacticos project was in full swing, David Beckham’s home debut for Real Madrid was eagerly anticipated. His entrance to the Bernabeu was made in cinematic style, like so much around him.

The scene took place during the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana, the tournament that opened the Spanish football season at the time.

Beckham celebrates his goal on his Bernabeu debut (Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)

Just three days earlier, Beckham had endured a bitter first appearance in white, losing the first leg in Mallorca 2-1 despite providing an assist. “It would have been nice to play all 90 minutes,” said Beckham, who was substituted shortly after half-time with the team trailing. Madrid’s new manager, Carlos Quieroz, took his message to heart.

Beckham completed the return leg as Madrid won 3-0 to claim their first title of the season. Playing on the right wing, replacing Luis Figo on the left, Beckham scored the third goal by heading in Ronaldo’s pass in a remarkable role reversal.

“I couldn’t have imagined making my debut at the Bernabeu like this, scoring and winning a title,” Beckham said. “It couldn’t have been better.”

It was the perfect start to the perfect signing for Perez, both on and off the pitch.

Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna (29 August 2009)

What do you think of this fantastic line-up of new players?

In the summer of 2009, during Perez’s second term as club president, Madrid spent €250 million (£211 million; $279 million at current rates) on transforming the attack with the three aforementioned names (and on improving the midfield and defence, with Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa).

Like Mbappe this year, the excitement surrounding Ronaldo’s arrival was immense, with Madrid selling out the Bernabeu on the day of his presentation earlier that summer. By the time the first home game of the season arrived, everything was set for an exciting start, with Usain Bolt even performing a ceremonial kick-off.

Usain Bolt at the Bernabeu in August 2009 (Dani Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)

Ronaldo wore the number 9 shirt (Raul still wore the number 7 shirt in 2009-2010) and scored a penalty in a 3-2 win. However, he also missed a number of chances as he was still adapting to the team.

Karim Benzema, whose profile was not as widely celebrated but who nevertheless provided the assist for Raul’s opening goal, was at the forefront. Kaka, meanwhile, also played a part in Madrid’s first goal and the Brazilian was perhaps the most impressive of the new faces.

Gareth Bale

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (28 September 2013)

Gareth Bale’s debut at the Bernabeu was a long time coming. Firstly, due to the eternal negotiations with Tottenham in the summer of his signing, before the Londoners finally received their world record fee of €101 million.

And then there were the Welshman’s physical problems. After missing the season opener through injury, Bale turned up in the warm-up for Madrid’s next home game. Fans had to wait until the seventh game of the season to finally see him at the Bernabeu.

Bale would go on to win the Champions League five times with Madrid (Empics Sport – PA Images via Getty Images)

It was a city derby against Atletico Madrid and he was brought on at half-time as a half-time substitute for Angel Di Maria with Real Madrid trailing 1-0. The score remained the same but — with the local fans in an uproar over Benzema’s apparent apathy — the Welshman’s hard running was much appreciated and he almost scored a late equaliser against Thibaut Courtois, who would later become his team-mate.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (19 August 2014)

Rodriguez was one of the sensations of the World Cup in Brazil that summer, helping Colombia reach the quarter-finals and scoring the goal of the tournament. Madrid had no hesitation in signing him from Monaco for €80 million.

Madrid had just won La Decima (their 10th European Cup/Champions League title) and had a star-studded line-up featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema. Toni Kroos had also joined them earlier in the summer, but Rodriguez was the icing on the cake and he made a fantastic debut at the Bernabeu against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Supercopa.

Rodriguez celebrates his debut goal against Atletico (Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

Rodriguez started from the bench, replacing Ronaldo at half-time. His introduction helped shake up Madrid’s play with style and substance, and in the 83rd minute he put Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead by scoring from a rebound.

Raul Garcia’s equaliser a few minutes later cooled the atmosphere somewhat, but the home fans were still happy with their new Colombian number 10.

Eden Danger

Real Madrid v Levante (14 September 2019)

After the terms of the deal that took him from Chelsea to Madrid were resolved, Eden Hazard would replace Bale as the Spanish club’s record signing (worth around €120 million). Some 50,000 fans gathered to celebrate his performance, despite the high June temperatures.

But in a sign of things to come, Hazard’s Bernabeu debut was delayed as the Belgian picked up the first of several injuries that would limit his impact in Madrid, meaning he didn’t make his debut until mid-September.

Hazard, now 33, retired from playing in October 2023 (David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The big moment didn’t live up to expectations. Hazard came on in the last half hour of a 3-2 win over Levante (he came on when the score was 3-1, replacing Casemiro) without making a huge impression. Not that he sounded disappointed.

“From the first moment I wanted to play here,” Hazard said. “It’s a beautiful stadium, the fans always support the team that plays at home, they want to enjoy the moment and the players want it to be like that.”

Unfortunately for all involved, terrible injury luck meant his story in Madrid didn’t improve much.

Real Madrid – Getafe (September 2, 2023)

Bellingham’s debut at the Bernabéu was one of the best in recent years for Real Madrid.

The Englishman was instrumental in the opening three games of the season – all played away from the Bernabeu while renovation work took place – and fans were hugely excited to see a player who had already scored four goals take centre stage once again.

From the outset, he was the focal point of Madrid’s attacking play, operating in the new position Ancelotti had created for him following Benzema’s surprise departure that summer.

But despite Bellingham making some dangerous passes and having two penalties overturned by VAR, it still took a dramatic late intervention to see Madrid take three points from a game in which Getafe surprisingly took the lead.

Bellingham made sure of that too. His 95th-minute winner, which came along with Joselu’s equaliser, was heartily celebrated by the home fans as confirmation that a new star had arrived. It was far from the only victory he secured for Madrid last season.

(Top photos: Getty Images)