By a turn of wondrous fate, one who did indeed idolize Ronaldo and spent major portions of his school days doing that, Kylian Mbappé is now in a position to potentially end Ronaldo’s great career in the Championships of Europe.
The two football giants get ready to face off in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, with the world waiting to know whether the new face of Real Madrid will stand taller than the one that he once idolized. Not a mere battle on the grass: symbolically, lifetimes pass by each other while passing on the superlative greatness relevant to that form of sports to the new occupier of the throne.
A Confluence of Legends
It has been 12 years since the first encounter between Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo, at that time, the unknown teenager from Paris got to visit the training center of Real Madrid at Valdebebas.
The photograph from that day shows a young, starstruck Mbappé beside a smiling Ronaldo, the epitome of all that was good about football. Now, he is the superstar at Real Madrid, the club Ronaldo had taken to amazing heights. Ronaldo, at 39, was mere sunset while Mbappé was high noon.
Mbappé’s Journey to Stardom
Teenage Mbappé had Ronaldo’s poster in his bedroom in Bondy, suburb to Paris. He watched YouTube videos of Ronaldo’s goals for hours. He had spent his childhood dreaming of doing the same thing that day like his hero one day.
When Mbappé’s free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid was completed, it is believed that dream had nudged a little nearer to fruition. Ronaldo, who was once that emerging Frenchman, knew a thing or two about this. “my turn to watch”. The message attracted over five million likes.
Mbappé: A meteoric rise from fan to the heir Apparent
Everything about Mbappé’s rise from an admiration station to his landing at Real Madrid is quite meteoric and now understood to be in that direction, seeking greatness in football. End of an Era Cristiano Ronaldo’s announcement that this would be his final European Championship has added an emotional layer to the tournament. Over his 22 years career, he has emerged the best footballer, having scored 895 goals in 1,230 games.
Ronaldo’s Longevity has been incredible since his first goal through the Euro 2004, not forgetting his first major international trophy, which he made headway during the Euro 2016. The Portugal captain knows that defeat could signal the end of his Euros campaign as he gears up to take on France. His grit, to still play at the top level with such application of skill, at his age, really demonstrates that he has had an unbelievable career.
The New Face of Real Madrid
With Kylian Mbappé, the story at Real Madrid is ushered into an entirely new era. Now, from Monaco and PSG, he is heading towards what is meant to make him a global superstar, much like Ronaldo did when he signed for the club in 2009. Madrid’s interest in Mbappé materialized from a long time ago, so from now on, they have got what they wanted.
Mbappé is believed to be the future of the club to achieve if not more, some of Ronaldo’s individual records. To be presented with the opportunity comes a lot of pressure on Mbappé to get the job done and take Real Madrid to where they belong.
The Quarterfinal Showdown
The game that looms in Hamburg pits France against Portugal in more than just a quarterfinal clash: it’s a symbolic duel between a departing legend and a rising star. Now at the peak of his powers, Mbappé is expected to drive France’s campaign, whereas Ronaldo is scrapping to prove he still belongs on the grand stage.
Both players have endured difficulties during the tournament: Mbappé an injury victim of a broken nose, while Ronaldo, despite constantly trying, remains goal-less. The result of the match will most likely depend on which of the two superstars is having a better run and gives a chance to the win of Ronaldo to end his already successful career at the Euros or not.
As Mbappé and Ronaldo set for a collision course, a footballing world braces for the spectacle of a long-anticipated encounter. For Mbappé, it’s the chance to cement his status as the heir to the throne of Ronaldo.
For Ronaldo, an opportunity to further extend that mythical career just a bit longer. Whatever unravels here – and this is one of those football matches that will go down as an absolute moment or period in white and black – you get the feeling that, barring divine intervention, this will be Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez’s Euro, and maybe international, swansong.
Will it be Mbappé that finally puts an end to Ronaldo’s Euro career? The torch, however, truly is being passed, and a new dawn in football greatness is on the horizon.
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