“I grew up idolizing him as my role model in football but we have an important match which I must win for the Ballon d’Or-Kylian Mbappe sends message to Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal
While Kylian Mbappe acknowledges that it will be a “honor” to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in a tantalizing Euro 2024 quarterfinal, he is adamant that he will lead France to victory over Portugal.
On Friday night in Hamburg, the European heavyweights France and Portugal square off with a spot in the semi-finals at stake.
World Cup champions So far in Germany, France has played the deceptive game, finishing bottom of Group D and requiring a late own goal to overcome Belgium in a tight match in the round of 16.
Portugal, on the other hand, defeated Slovenia on penalties following a goalless last-16 match, and they went on to win Group F despite Georgia’s shocking loss.
A fascinating undercurrent to Friday’s matchup will be the rivalry between Mbappe and Ronaldo, with the former generally considered the world’s top player having eclipsed the latter in recent years.
Even today, Mbappe is a member of Real Madrid, the team where Ronaldo made history by becoming the all-time great with 450 goals in 438 games and four Champions League crowns.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is exceptional—a legend.” Prior to the greatest Euro match of the season thus far, Mbappe declared, “He is someone who has inspired a whole generation.”
An exciting quarterfinal matchup between France and Portugal for Euro 2024
An exciting quarterfinal matchup between France and Portugal for Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Playing against him is an honor. My adoration for Cristiano is well known. His resume is quite convincing. Another player like him will never come around.
“I hope we win tomorrow and go one step closer to the final, but respect to him—he’s still a legend in the game.”
In 19 of their 28 matches with France, France has won. When the countries previously faced each other in the Euro 2020 group stage, they played to a thrilling 2-2 tie.
The former PSG striker, Kylian Mbappe, has not performed well at the Euros. His fractured nose against Austria in France’s opening match hasn’t helped his cause.
At his record sixth European Championship, Ronaldo is still without a goal. He missed a penalty against Slovenia in regulation time, but he converted his penalty attempt in the shootout to help Portugal advance.
