Kylian Mbappe expressed his excitement on Thursday about the prospect of playing against his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, when France takes on Portugal in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday.
“It is an honour. Everyone knows about my admiration for Cristiano,” the 25-year-old France captain told reporters. Mbappe has long idolized Ronaldo, famously decorating his bedroom wall with pictures of the Portuguese superstar. He even met Ronaldo at Real Madrid’s training ground as a young teenager when the Spanish club tried to sign him.
“I have got to know him over time. We are still in contact. He still tries to follow my career,” Mbappe added. At 39, Ronaldo is now playing club football in Saudi Arabia and has indicated that this European Championship will likely be his last. This match could be Mbappe’s final opportunity to compete against his hero in such a significant tournament.
While Mbappe is honored to play against Ronaldo, he remains focused on the game. “It is an honour but it doesn’t matter what has happened before or will happen in the future,” Mbappe said. “He remains a legend of the game but we hope to win tomorrow and take a step closer to the final.”
France’s journey to the quarter-finals has been marked by challenges. Les Bleus have only scored three times in four games, with one goal being a penalty by Mbappe and the other two resulting from own goals, including Jan Vertonghen’s decisive own goal in their victory over Belgium in the last 16.
Mbappe has also faced personal obstacles, such as a broken nose that caused him to miss one group game. He returned to play wearing a protective face mask and admitted he is not at full fitness. “I don’t think I’m fully fit. It’s not an excuse, but I think to be really at 100 percent, explosive and fast, I need a proper pre-season with my club,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Mbappe remains optimistic. Having recently signed for Real Madrid, he will be following in Ronaldo’s footsteps. “Whatever has happened before or will happen after, he will remain a legend in the game, but of course, we hope to win tomorrow and get through to the semi-final,” Mbappe reiterated.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has struggled in the tournament, failing to score and even missing a crucial penalty in the last-16 match against Slovenia, a game Portugal won through penalties.
Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, emphasized that the focus should not solely be on Mbappe and Ronaldo. “Football is a team sport. Tomorrow is not a match between two individuals. They are two incredible players who have a big influence on the game worldwide, and that influence will continue, but tomorrow we will need a real top-level team performance if we are to win,” Martinez said.
As the stage is set for this highly anticipated clash, both teams are preparing to give their best, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of this exciting encounter.
