Kylian Mbappé battles boyhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo in Euro 2024 ...

Kylian Mbappé has been one of the most influential players since making his professional debut for Monaco days before his 17th birthday. Owing to how quickly he adapted to the demands of being an elite athlete, and his continuous improvement since then, it is sometimes easy to forget that the Frenchman is still only 25 years old.

In fact, when Portuguese soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo made his European Championship debut in 2004, Mbappé was only five. Ronaldo eventually became one of the greatest influences on Mbappé as a footballer. 

“It is not Cristiano against Kylian. It is Portugal against France, and I want Portugal to qualify for the semifinals” — Bernardo Silva

One example of this influence is an image of the Frenchman, while he was still a boy, sitting in a room covered by pictures of his Portuguese counterpart. It popped up on social media a few years ago.

Now a firmly established star himself, and set to emulate Ronaldo by playing for Real Madrid as of next season, there is likely another budding footballer with their bedroom covered in pictures of Mbappé. 

Despite his own growth, the Frenchman still holds Ronaldo in high regard, as the latter’s magnificent career steadily creeps to a close. Still, Mbappé is not at all conflicted as to which team he would like to be victorious, when the two nations clash on Friday, 5 July.   

“I have total respect for him. I can only sing his praises. Over time I’ve been lucky to brush shoulders with him, meet him and get to know him. We are still in contact. He keeps up with my life, gives me tips,” said Mbappé, about Ronaldo’s influence.

“Playing against him is always an honour. Regardless of what happens [in this game] he will be a football legend. Of course, we hope he is not so happy, and we are going to reach the semifinal,” the former Paris Saint-Germain star added.

Though on paper both Portugal and France have extremely strong teams, they have both struggled to be at their best at these Euros so far. France and Mbappé — who suffered a broken nose during his country’s Euro 2024 opening fixture (where they edged Austria 1-0) — have only three goals to their name at this tournament.

Two of those are own goals, while one is a penalty that the latest Real Madrid superstar scored when France were held to a one-all stalemate by Poland in the group phase.

Star-studded Portugal — boasting the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, João Cancelo, Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva — have not been much better than their quarterfinal opponents. They have scored a few more goals than the French, including trouncing Turkey 3-0 in the group stage.

This before being beaten 2-0 by tournament debutants Georgia during their final match of the first round.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Monstrous clash between Germany and Spain may decide eventual Euro 2024 winner

In the round of 16, versus Slovenia, the Portuguese were once more far from convincing, and had to rely on the heroics of goalkeeper Diogo Costa as he made three saves to help his country win 3-0 in the penalty shootout. They had been unable to breach Slovenia’s defence in 120 minutes of play, as the contest ended 0-0.

Against an equally star-studded French team, the Portuguese will know that there will be little margin for error.          

“[France is] a team accustomed to these things, accustomed to playing in the knockout stages, and they have a lot of experience. But we’re going for it, with the aim of qualifying for the semifinals. Because we’re a great team too,” Portugal and Manchester City star Silva said. 

“Our goal is to win and to get closer to the final until we win the trophy.”

“It is not Cristiano against Kylian. It is Portugal against France, and I want Portugal to qualify for the semifinals,” added Silva on the prevailing sub-theme in the build-up to the clash.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Little room for error as teams enter crucial Euro 2024 knockout stage

“He and Cristiano are two unbelievable players at different stages of their careers. Cristiano is one of the best who ever played the game. Kylian is still going through the beginning and middle of this career.”

England is another powerhouse nation that is yet to live up to that tag, alongside the Portuguese and French. Up next for Gareth Southgate is a tricky encounter against a resolute Switzerland side, skippered by Granit Xhaka — a player who played a pivotal part as Germany side Bayer Leverkusen clinched the German League undefeated last season.

The former Arsenal midfielder has anchored a measured Swiss campaign that has seen them undefeated in their four games at the Euros to date. Xhaka has been one of the most influential midfielders at the tournament, lagging behind only Germany’s Toni Kroos in terms of influencing matches from the centre circle.

“This team is hungry. This team has a completely new mentality, will, passion,” Xhaka said of his fellow Swiss teammate.

Switzerland is yet to lose a match in 2024, and it is targeting a maiden Euro semifinal appearance. Considering how unconvincing the English have been at the Euros so far, Xhaka and his compatriots will fancy their odds of rewriting history by booking a place in the last four. DM

Friday, 5 July:

Spain vs Germany (6pm)

Portugal vs France (9pm)

Saturday, 6 July:

England vs Switzerland (6pm)

Netherlands vs Turkey (9pm)

Daily Maverick’s journalism is funded by the contributions of our Maverick Insider members. If you appreciate our work, then join our membership community. Defending Democracy is an everyday effort. Be part of it. Become a Maverick Insider.