Les Bleus face Portugal tonight in Hamburg for the Euro quarter-finals. On the pitch, it will also be a duel of stars: Kylian Mbappé will face his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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It’s a remake of the 2016 final where Les Bleus were defeated. On Friday, July 5, at 9 p.m., in Hamburg, Didier Deschamps’ players will challenge Portugal in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. A face-off that will see Kylian Mbappé and his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Seleçao, face off. A real match within the match between the two players who will therefore face each other… for only the fifth time so far.
In his teenage bedroom, the walls were covered with posters of Cristiano Ronaldo. And Kylian Mbappé would never have imagined, twelve years later, that he would be participating in the twilight of his idol, who has now gone to play in Saudi Arabia. Worse: he could even push “CR7” off the pitch.
But what does it matter if the Portuguese – who has not yet found the flaw in the game during this Euro 2024 – stands in the way of the French team in the race for the continental title, Kylian Mbappé is still under the spell. “Everyone knows the admiration I have always had for Cristiano, for the playerunderlines the French striker. Playing against him is an honour for everything he has done in football..“
From autographs to exchanging messages, the two captains have now formed a special bond, explains the French player. “I’m lucky to know him, to speak with him many times. We are still in contactassures Kylian Mbappé. He always tries to give me advice, to follow my news a little. It’s nice…”
“He left his mark on the history of football. He inspired generations.”
Kylian Mbappéto franeinfo
It is impossible for Kylian Mbappé to burn the idol he adored, despite a Cristiano Ronaldo less decisive than before with his selection. “You have to know how to appreciate what he was, what he is. I just want to admire the greatness of the player. A unique player, there won’t be two like him…“, sweeps the captain of the Blues.
A sign that the transfer of power is already underway: Cristiano Ronaldo’s son was spotted on his social networks at the beginning of the year with a Kylian Mbappé jersey on his back.