Mbappe Praises Ronaldo Ahead of EURO 2024 Quarter-Final

Key Points

• Kylian Mbappe expresses his honor in facing Cristiano Ronaldo as France prepares to take on Portugal in the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
• Ronaldo has announced that this will be his last European Championship, adding significance to the match.
• Both players have expressed admiration for each other, with Mbappe noting Ronaldo's influence and legacy in football.

Hamberg, Germany- Kylian Mbappe has described it as "an honour" to play against Cristiano Ronaldo as France prepares to face Portugal in the Euro 2024 quarter-final. The highly anticipated match will take place in Hamburg on Friday, with kick-off at 20:00 BST.

Mbappe, who signed with Real Madrid this summer, follows in the footsteps of Ronaldo, who won four successive Champions League titles with the club. The Frenchman, 25, expressed his admiration for Ronaldo, 39, calling it "a pleasure" to compete against Portugal's five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"It's the admiration I've always had for Cristiano, for the player. Over time, I've had the chance to get to know him and talk to him many times. We're still in touch," said Mbappe. "He's always trying to give me advice and keep up to date with what's going on. Playing against him is an honour for everything he's done in football."

Ronaldo, who announced that this tournament would be his last Euros, has been a monumental figure in the sport. Mbappe emphasized that no matter the outcome, Ronaldo will always be a legend of the game. "No matter what happened before or what happens after, he'll always be a legend of the game. But of course, we hope to win and reach the semi-finals."

This match is seen by many as a symbolic "handover" between two football greats. However, Mbappe insists that Ronaldo is "unique" and that he will follow his own path at Madrid. "There will only be one [Ronaldo]. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to start living my dream as a player in Madrid," he added. "I hope I'll write a great story there, but I'm certainly not going there to write the rest of Cristiano's story. What he did in Madrid is unique."

Mbappe highlighted Ronaldo's significant impact on football, inspiring generations with his numerous goals and titles. "You have to appreciate what he has been, what he is. I've never been an envious person, so I just want to admire the greatness of the player. He left his mark on the history of football. He inspired generations. He has scored many goals and won many titles. So his CV speaks for itself."

Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, who played with Mbappe at Monaco, praised the Frenchman for his talent and career achievements. "Kylian is a wonderful player and started with us at AS Monaco when he was 16. I remember after his first week we would say 'who's this kid?'" Silva reminisced. "I am so delighted for him that he was able to have a wonderful career. I wish him the best but not [against us] obviously. I want us to qualify."

Silva, however, refrained from drawing comparisons between Mbappe and Ronaldo. "It's not about Kylian and Cristiano – it's about Portugal and France. They are both two unbelievable players," said Silva. "Cristiano is one of the best to ever play the game. Kylian is still going through the beginning or middle of his career. But it's not about them. As Portugal, we want to go through and qualify for the semi-finals."

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has faced criticism for his team selection and their performance in the tournament. They needed extra time and a penalty shootout to overcome Slovenia in their last-16 tie on Monday. Martinez acknowledged the criticism but remained focused on supporting his players. "Criticism is part of the job description. Criticism shows how passionate people are about the national team and I accept that," said Martinez. "I believe we have very important players and a very competitive dressing room. I see them every day in training so can make decisions."

With both teams vying for a place in the semi-finals, fans are eagerly anticipating the clash between Mbappe and Ronaldo, two of football's most iconic figures.