The highly anticipated Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal will feature Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo leading their respective teams. For Mbappe, this match holds a special significance, as he once idolized Ronaldo, adorning his bedroom walls with posters of the Portuguese star. As a child, Mbappe even had the opportunity to meet his hero when his parents took him to see Real Madrid play Marseille at the Stade Velodrome in the Champions League.
As a child, Kylian Mbappe idolized Cristiano Ronaldo, adorning his bedroom walls with posters of the football star.
A young Kylian Mbappe met Cristiano Ronaldo when he was 10, and they posed for a photo again a few years later.
At the age of 10, Mbappe attended the December 2009 fixture, arriving early to witness Ronaldo’s warm-up routine. Ronaldo stole the show that night, scoring twice, including a free-kick, in a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mbappe waited after the game to meet his idol, asking for an autograph, a photo, and even Ronaldo’s boots.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive performance, including a free-kick goal, left a lasting impression on the young Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe’s passion for the game and admiration for Ronaldo were evident, and he was determined to follow in his footsteps. Years later, Mbappe’s dreams came true as he broke through at Monaco and later joined PSG in 2017. In 2018, Mbappe faced Ronaldo for the first time on the pitch during the Champions League round of 16, where Real Madrid bested PSG with a 5-2 aggregate win.
Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo faced each other for the first time in a competitive match in 2018.
The two stars have also crossed paths on the international stage, with France and Portugal playing out a goalless draw in the Nations League in 2020 and a 2-2 draw at Euro 2020. Despite never beating Ronaldo in a competitive match, Mbappe’s admiration for his idol remains unwavering.
In an interview, Mbappe praised Ronaldo as “the greatest athlete that football has known,” acknowledging his success at every club he has represented. The respect is mutual, as Ronaldo was one of the first to congratulate Mbappe on his recent transfer to Real Madrid, expressing his excitement to see Mbappe light up the Bernabeu.
As Mbappe prepares to join Real Madrid, he hopes to write his own unique chapter in the club’s history while drawing inspiration from Ronaldo’s remarkable record of 450 goals in 438 appearances for the Spanish giants. However, before Mbappe turns his focus to his new club, he has his eyes set on the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Ronaldo and Portugal.
Kylian Mbappe is determined to regain his best form after a broken nose at the Euros.
Both players have faced challenges at the tournament, with Mbappe recovering from a broken nose and Ronaldo missing a penalty in Portugal’s last-16 clash with Slovenia. Despite these setbacks, they remain key figures for their teams and will undoubtedly put their friendship aside when they face each other on Friday night in Hamburg.