“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

Kylian Mbappe thinks it will be a ‘honor’ to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in a mouth-watering Euro 2024 quarter-final, but he is motivated to push France through at the expense of Portugal.

France and Portugal, European heavyweights, will face off in Hamburg on Friday night for a spot in the semi-finals.

World Cup Finalists So far in Germany, France has flattered to deceive, failing to win Group D before defeating Belgium in a nail-biting last-16 match thanks to a late own goal.

Portugal, meanwhile, won Group F despite a shock defeat to Georgia, before defeating Slovenia on penalties when their last-16 meeting ended goalless.

The duel between Mbappe and Ronaldo will be a fascinating undercurrent in Friday’s match, with the former largely considered as the finest player in the world after surpassing Ronaldo in recent years.

Mbappe is now at Real Madrid, where Ronaldo established himself as an all-time great, scoring 450 goals in 438 games and winning four Champions League titles.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is special, an icon. “He is someone who has inspired an entire generation,” Mbappe remarked ahead of the Euros’ biggest game ever.

France faces Portugal in an exciting Euro 2024 quarterfinal.
France faces Portugal in an exciting Euro 2024 quarterfinal. (Image: Getty)
It is an honor to play against him. Everyone knows how much I admire Cristiano. His CV speaks for itself. There will never be a player like him.

‘Respect to him, he remains a great of the game, but I hope we win tomorrow and go one step closer to the final.

France has won 19 of their 28 encounters with France. When the nations last played at the Euro 2020 group stage, they drew 2-2.

Mbappe, an ex-PSG attacker, has underperformed at the Euros, hampered by a fractured nose sustained against Austria in France’s first game.

Ronaldo is yet to score at his record sixth European Championship, missing a penalty in normal time against Slovenia before converting his spot-kick in the shootout to propel Portugal on.