Kylian Mbappe lauds Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their quarter final clash in Euro 2024

Twelve years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo, the star of Real Madrid, and Kylian Mbappe, an unknown youngster from Paris, first met on a scouting tour. The two teams will reunite in Hamburg on Friday when France takes on Portugal in the Quarterfinals of the Euro 2024 competition. The Les Bleus captain, Kylian Mbappe, believes facing Cristiano Ronaldo at the European Championship will be "an honor" ahead of the match.

Kylian Mbappe is now Real Madrid's new face, while Ronaldo is reaching the end of his reign of greatness, which includes a triumph at the Bernabéu that Mbappé can only hope to match. Ronaldo, 39, is approaching the twilight of his career as European football's most well-known global star. Mbappe is one of the possibilities to take over. 

Mbappe poured respect on Cristiano Ronaldo, who might be playing his final match in a European Championship. Despite his respect, Mbappe said he wants France to go to the semifinals, even if it meant eliminating the former Real Madrid star.

As per AP News during the pre-match press conference Kylian Mbappe said, “Everyone knows just how much I admire Cristiano Ronaldo as a player,” “Over time, I have been lucky to brush shoulders with him, to get to know and have a chat with him. We are still in contact. He is always helping me — he keeps up with what is going on in my life and he gives me tips.

“It’s an honor for me, especially when we think about what he has done for the footballing world. Regardless of what has happened before or what happens after, he will be a footballing legend.”

Both have big impact on game

Both players are yet to have a major impact on this year's competition. Cristiano, who has 14 Euros goals, has gone scoreless in four games this year. He had an opportunity to end his goal drought in Portugal's Round of 16 encounter against Slovenia, but he missed a penalty shortly before halftime in extra time. Mbappe's tournament has been unimpressive. He has only one goal and one assist in three games, missing France's second encounter against the Netherlands due to a fractured nose. 

Despite their problems, both players hope to move on from prior setbacks and advance to Euro 2024 semi-finals on Friday, July 5. The forthcoming game will be significant for both sides, as well as a meeting of two eras of football greats.