Cristiano Ronaldo faces Kylian Mbappe in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 – a battle between two football generations, possibly Ronaldo’s last match at this major tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Kylian Mbappe – a confrontation between football icons, a confrontation between two generations.
They will face off when Portugal take on France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and this meeting could have been more intriguing.
“This is definitely my last European Championship,” said 39-year-old Ronaldo after an emotional and tearful performance in Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia in the last 16.
This may have confirmed what many had already guessed.
(Photo: According to AP)
There remains the fact that Ronaldo’s long and title-filled adventure at the Euros could be ended by Mbappé, who has inherited Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s place after a long period of domination of the sport.
Mbappé grew up with pictures of Ronaldo on his bedroom wall.
A photo circulating on social media shows their first meeting at Real Madrid’s training ground in Valdebebas in 2012 when a 13-year-old Mbappé stood next to Ronaldo after a visit to the Spanish club where his hero was a star.
Just a few months ago, Ronaldo reacted to Mbappé’s move to Madrid by writing on Instagram: “Excited to see you shine at the Bernabeu.”
Mbappé could now end Ronaldo’s Euros career – perhaps even his last major tournament – adding a compelling narrative to a match watched around the world.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Ronaldo said of the match against France, who he sees as the top contenders at Euro 2024 along with Spain.
He said he was in tears not because he was afraid of being eliminated but because his main motivation now was to “make people happy” and he had a penalty saved in extra time.
“I’m moved by everything football brings – by the passion I have for the game, the passion I see from my fans, my family, the love people have for me.”
Ronaldo enters the game on an eight-game run without a goal at major tournaments – Portugal’s last four at the 2022 World Cup and four at Euro 2024 – and concerns are growing over whether he deserves his almost guaranteed place in Roberto Martinez’s squad.
Mbappe also struggled at Euro 2024.
He broke his nose in France’s opening match against Austria and has since worn a protective mask that restricts his vision during matches. Mbappé scored a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Poland – the only goal by a French player at the tournament.
“He will have to get used to it,” France coach Didier Deschamps said of Mbappé wearing a mask, “because to protect (his nose), he will have to wear it for a few weeks – or even months.”
Few would have predicted that the top scorer at the last World Cup (Mbappé) and the record scorer in men’s international football (Ronaldo) would have just one goal between them before the quarter-finals.
But no one will be surprised if they shine in Hamburg, with such pressure and such an important occasion.
(Photo: According to AP)
Mbappé, remember, scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final and had a similar goal tally to Ronaldo in the early stages of his career. He had 48 goals for France at the age of 25 and also 48 in the Champions League in 73 appearances.
He is chasing Ronaldo’s goalscoring records at both international level (130) and the Champions League (140) and will probably only succeed by showing the same passion and hunger as the player he emulated as a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥.
As captains of both teams, they will shake hands and hug before kick-off. You can bet they will do the same after the game.
By that time, one of them will be on their way home.
For Mbappé, there will be many European championships ahead.
For Ronaldo, this could be the final point.
