Kylian Mbappé recently praised Cristiano Ronaldo, stating he is “still number one” at Real Madrid. Mbappé referred to the club’s all-time leading scorer as “a role model” and admitted he has sought guidance from the star of Al Nassr.
Ronaldo, who was one of Mbappé’s childhood heroes, netted 450 goals in nine seasons with Madrid from 2009 to 2018, accumulating 16 trophies, including four Champions League titles.
Mbappé aspires to emulate Ronaldo’s success, having already scored 44 goals in his first season at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2024-25, while tallying 14 goals this current campaign.
“Cristiano has always been a role model for me,” Mbappé told Movistar in a recent interview. “I’m fortunate to be able to talk to him; he offers me advice and support. In Madrid, he remains the top figure; he’s an example for all Real Madrid players who aspire to achieve great things. The fans still cherish their memories of Cristiano. Nevertheless, I aim to carve out my own journey.”
Despite Mbappé’s scoring prowess, Madrid finished the last season without any major silverware. Currently, they lead LaLiga after eight matches, two points ahead of Barcelona, even after suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid last month.
“They [Atletico] showed up to play a derby, and we did too, but lacked intensity in our duels and crosses,” Mbappé remarked on Sunday. “They won every encounter, making it tough to claim victory.”
Mbappé netted a goal for France in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan on Friday, but was substituted late due to an ankle injury, having previously faced a similar setback with Madrid last weekend.
France is considered a strong contender for the 2026 World Cup, but Mbappé acknowledged Spain as serious competition.
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“In my opinion, [Spain] is currently the best team in Europe,” Mbappé stated, having won the 2018 World Cup and finishing as a runner-up in 2022. “However, the dynamics of the World Cup can differ.”
At Madrid, questions have arisen regarding Mbappé’s partnership with teammate Vinícius Júnior, particularly whether two forwards who prefer playing on the left can coexist in the same lineup.
“The combination of two notable players in one team certainly attracts attention,” Mbappé commented when asked about Vinícius. “But the reality is that my relationship with Vinícius is very positive. It’s even better this year as we have developed a deeper understanding of each other.”