Kylian Mbappe says it will be 'an honour' to take on 'legend' Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024 as France striker prepares for Portugal clash

This Friday in Hamburg promises to be an evening to remember as it will mark the first competitive meeting between two stalwarts of world football since the group stages of Euro 2020 when Ronaldo took centre stage with a brace to churn out a thrilling 2-2 draw, equalling the all-time international goalscoring record for men.

Mbappe holds Ronaldo in the highest regard as he has always idolised the Portuguese talisman. There is immense mutual respect between the two and the French striker revealed that they happen to be in regular touch with the veteran star frequently offering advice.

On the eve of the blockbuster clash, Mbappe told reporters: "It’s an honour. It’s the admiration I’ve always had for Cristiano, for the player. Over time, I’ve had the chance to get to know him and talk to him many times. We’re still in touch. He’s always trying to give me advice and keep up to date with what’s going on.

“It’s a pleasure. Playing against him is an honour for everything he’s done in football. No matter what happened before or what happens after, he’ll always be a legend of the game. But of course we hope to win tomorrow and reach the semi-finals.”

Mbappe's transfer to Real Madrid in June offers him the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo, who enjoyed a legendary stint at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo's tenure at Real Madrid saw him score 450 goals in 438 appearances, winning two La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, and collecting four Ballon d'Or awards.

While Mbappe acknowledges Ronaldo's extraordinary achievements, he is determined to forge his own path at Real Madrid. "What he did in Madrid is unique, and I hope to do something unique in Madrid too. It will be completely different, but I can only have praise for a player of his calibre," Mbappe noted.

"There’s only one. There will only be one. I just followed my path. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to start living my dream as a player in Madrid. I hope I’ll write a great story there, but I’m certainly not going there to write the rest of Cristiano’s story."

As the world eagerly awaits this monumental clash, the narrative is set for an unforgettable encounter between two of football’s greatest stars. Whether it's Ronaldo continuing to defy age or Mbappe stepping into the spotlight as the new global star, Friday's match promises to be a historic event.