Cristiano Ronaldo is set to face off against Kylian Mbappé as Portugal goes head to head with France in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals. At 39 years old, Ronaldo has confirmed that this will be his last European Championship, adding finality to his illustrious Euros career. Mbappé, widely seen as the heir to Ronaldo and Messi, grew up idolizing Ronaldo and now has the chance to potentially end Ronaldo’s tournament career.
Their meeting on the field adds an intriguing subplot to the match, with Ronaldo stating that France, alongside Spain, is a top contender at Euro 2024. Despite Ronaldo’s recent goal drought at major tournaments, both players are expected to perform under the pressure of such a significant occasion.
Mbappé has faced challenges as well, wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken nose in an earlier game. With only one goal so far in the tournament, Mbappé will be looking to showcase his scoring prowess akin to Ronaldo.
As their nations’ captains, Ronaldo and Mbappé will share a handshake before the game, knowing that one of them will be exiting the tournament. While Mbappé likely has more European Championships ahead of him, this could mark the end of an era for Ronaldo on the international stage.
