Mbappé can send childhood idol Ronaldo to the desert
Neither Kylian Mbappe nor Cristiano Ronaldo have shone so far in the EURO. The French forward looks battered with a nasal injury and a necessary mask. Portugal's captain seems more like an outsider in the game. Yet, both can tell a great story in their duel.
According to goals scored in EURO tournaments, the score is 14:1 in favor of Cristiano Ronaldo. In terms of Champions League titles, it's 5:0, and in terms of annual salary, it's 200 million euros to 15 million euros, and on Instagram, Ronaldo has 633 million followers compared to Mbappe's 119 million. There's hardly a measurable category where France's star striker, Kylian Mbappe, can keep up with his childhood idol Ronaldo.
However, no other game at this European Championship can be reduced to the duel of these two superstars as much as this one. "I've shared the dressing room with both," said Portugal's left-back Nuno Mendes of Mbappe's former club Paris St. Germain at the EURO team's training camp. "They're both incredible and can make a difference from one moment to the next."
"The Legend meets the Crown Prince"
Both personalities illuminate the match as the purely sporting performance of both teams has not been impressive so far. The French team has only managed to offer two own goals and a converted penalty kick from Mbappe. The Portuguese team, on the other hand, seems to have Ronaldo's presence hindering other highly talented players in the squad from being effectively integrated. The captain plays every game, he snatches every free kick - but he has yet to score a single goal at this EURO.
Ronaldo puts the security concept of this tournament under significant strain, not because of the opposing defense, but because a flash player keeps appearing who just wants a photo with him. Even though the Ronaldo era is coming to an end. He has long since turned his back on club football. And with the national team, this EURO will be his last. The record player and top scorer of the EURO will soon retire.
"We need these faces"
And Mbappe's status as a prince to Ronaldo is underlined solely by his transfer to the long-established Ronaldo club Real Madrid this summer. Real Madrid reportedly paid a staggering 150 million euros in transfer fees for the 25-year-old's signature. According to information from the Spanish sports newspaper "AS," Real Madrid is preparing a "Día M" (M day) for July 16, on which Mbappe will be presented to 80,000 fans in Madrid with a grand show.
Such numbers and spectacles show that it's no longer just about the sport in modern football. The star is counted more and more often instead of the team. And that's why UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin told the German Press Agency in an interview about this EURO: "We need these faces. After Ronaldo and Messi, new ones will come." Above all, they would attract young people to football.
"The Child and the Idol"
Mbappe's status as Ronaldo's heir is further emphasized by his transfer to the long-standing Ronaldo club Real Madrid this summer. Real Madrid reportedly paid a staggering €150 million in transfer fees for Mbappe's signature. According to information from the Spanish sports newspaper "AS," Real Madrid is preparing an "M Day" (M Day) for July 16, on which Mbappe will be presented to 80,000 fans in Madrid with a grand show.
Such numbers and spectacles show that it's no longer just about the sport in modern football. The star is counted more and more often instead of the team. And that's why UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin told the German Press Agency in an interview about this EURO: "We need these faces. After Ronaldo and Messi, new ones will come." Above all, they would attract young people to football.
Mbappe himself is an example. The day before France's EURO 2020 quarter-final against Portugal, the French sports newspaper "L'Equipe" published a large story with the title "The Child and the Idol" (The Child and the Idol). This includes a photo showing Mbappe in his childhood room in Bondy near Paris: The two walls of his bed are almost covered with Ronaldo posters.
When Mbappe was eleven years old, his parents gave him tickets for a Champions League game of Ronaldo and Real Madrid in Marseille. "A autograph, a photo, and even the shoes: Mbappe wanted everything from Cristiano Ronaldo," wrote "L'Equipe" about this. On Friday evening at the Hamburg Volksparkstadion, he can still ask for it again. After his transfer to the Royals, Mbappe had posted photos of himself as a small boy in the Real outfit on social media, as well as a snapshot of him with Ronaldo. "I'm finally here to watch you. I'm looking forward to seeing you shine at the Bernabeu," wrote the same Ronaldo in the comments. However, a last duel is still ahead.
- Despite trailing in several statistical categories, Kylian Mbappé has the opportunity to make a statement against his idol Cristiano Ronaldo at the European Football Championship 2024, as he has recently joined Real Madrid, Ronaldo's former club.
- The Portuguese team, including their captain Cristiano Ronaldo, has struggled to integrate their talented players effectively, with Ronaldo's presence possibly taking the spotlight away from his teammates.
- As the European Championship nears its end, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the EURO's all-time top scorers, will likely face his last match with the Portuguese national team, continuing his legacy in European football.
