The French striker had plenty to say when asked about the France-Portugal match about Cristiano Ronaldo, the mask and EURO ambitions.

Kylian Mbappe with a mask at EURO 2024

Kylian Mbappe spoke to the media ahead of the EURO 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal in Hamburg, where the captain was not shy about praising CR7.

Playing against Cristiano Ronaldo: “It was an honour to play against Cristiano. Everyone knows the admiration I have for him. I had the chance to speak to him. We always kept in touch and he gave me a lot of advice. Playing against Ronaldo was an honour. Whatever he does in football, whatever happens after that, Cristiano will always be a legend.”

What I admire about Cristiano Ronaldo: “You have to appreciate what he has been through and the person he is. I just admire the greatness of the player. Cristiano is a unique player. There will be no one like him. Ronaldo has impacted the history of football, has inspired generations, impacted so many people. I respect him, but like I said, I hope he is not happy tomorrow because we want to get to the semi-finals.”

Following Ronaldo in Madrid: “As I said. Cristiano is unique. I had the chance to realise my dream of playing for Real Madrid. I hope to write Madrid’s history. But Cristiano’s history at Real Madrid is unique, I have nothing but praise for him.

On wearing a mask: “Without the mask, I wouldn’t be able to play tomorrow. Thanks to it, I can play. I will wear it until the end of the tournament. I can only be grateful for it, because without it I wouldn’t be able to play. Tomorrow I will try to give my best performance.”

How the EURO is going: “There are great teams. In every game, every detail is important. It is important to dominate both areas, because that is where the difference between attack and defence is made. We have worked hard because tomorrow there will be two teams with ambitions to reach the semi-finals. We will prepare as well as possible. There have been improvements in training, in intensity and finishing. Everyone is happy. We are ready for tomorrow and hopefully we will play the game we need to win.

Antoine Griezmann’s role on the wing: “He is a player who has given a lot to the national team and we have to appreciate him. Antoine is going through a difficult time, that’s okay. I believe he has all the support of the people, the team, the dressing room and the journalists. Everyone is free to express their opinion, but the criticism of Griezmann hurts me – he has given everything for France. He is one of the best players in the modern era for the national team. He is a person who likes to be loved and always gives his all. He is an important player for us.”