Iconic Encounter: Mbappe To Face His Boyhood Hero In An Epic Faceoff (image- instagram/ k.mbappe)
Kylian Mbappe, the masked man of Euro 2024 is about to face his idol Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarterfinal match against Portugal on Friday. However, it is unsure whether the 25-year-old has found his best form at the tournament.
Speculation over Mbappe’s future club and broken nose has overshadowed the team’s opening games. Meanwhile, France’s luck continues in the tournament as Mbappe struggles with his mask. He was spotted several times during the last match against Belgium adjusting the mask.
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France struggled in the last match as its 19 shots against the Belgians failed to hit the target. Goals, or the lack, has been an issue for France throughout the tournament. Heading deeper into the competition, facing confident players in each next step, the team will have to make their attackers start delivering.
With the trauma of having to play with a broken nose and trembling team, it will be quite a challenge for the team to reach the semi-finals.
The Friday match is going to be a match of generation with the two football icons meeting against each other on the same field. However, there is something that has to be taken into account, the immense admiration France’s captain shares with the Portugal star, CR7.
A photo is now going on rounds on social media of their first meet at Real Madrid’s training ground at Valdebebas in 2012 when a 13-year-old stood beside Ronaldo after a visit to the Spanish club where his sporting hero was the star player.
Later in 2020, Mbappe posted on Twitter that Ronaldo was his “idol”.
The Portugal star commenting on the match against France whom he consider as one of the top contenders at Euro 2024 said, “let’s go, let’s go to war”.
However, things haven’t been going well for the French star who has been hailed as the heir apparent to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after their long-term dominance in the sport.
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As being the country’s respective captains’, both will shake hands and embrace before the kickoff and after the match, unfortunately, one will have to head back home.
The man who had his room decorated with the posters of the Portuguese superstar will have to knock out Portugal, potentially bringing an end to Ronaldo’s remarkable international career, to keep his dream of winning the European Championship alive.
