Kylian Mbappé has expressed admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, referring to him as a 'unique' player as France prepares to face Portugal in the quarterfinals on Friday. Mbappé revealed that he maintains regular contact with the 39-year-old football icon, highlighting the mutual respect between them.
It is well-documented that Mbappé has long been a fan of Ronaldo, with a notable moment captured in a photo of their meeting at the Real Madrid training ground back in 2012. Reflecting on Ronaldo's legacy, Mbappé emphasized the honor he feels in having a relationship with the legendary player and acknowledged his remarkable achievements throughout his career.
During a press conference ahead of the upcoming match, Mbappé praised Ronaldo's status as a footballing legend, underscoring the significance of his accomplishments. When asked about potentially emulating Ronaldo's success at Real Madrid, Mbappé humbly stated his desire to carve out his own path and create his own legacy, recognizing the unparalleled nature of Ronaldo's career.
France's performance at Euro 2024 has been marked by a lack of fluidity in their gameplay, having failed to score from open play in their previous four matches. Despite advancing through penalties and own goals, including a recent own goal by Jan Vertonghen in a closely contested round-of-16 encounter against Belgium, the team has faced criticism for their style of play.
Manager Didier Deschamps, however, remains unfazed by the detractors, asserting that winning matches is the ultimate goal regardless of the manner in which it is achieved. Deschamps acknowledged the presence of critics but emphasized his focus on leading the team to success and maintaining a sense of tranquility amidst external scrutiny.
