In a press conference held on Thursday, French football star Kylian Mbappé expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, describing him as a "unique player" ahead of the upcoming quarterfinal clash between France and Portugal. Mbappé revealed that he and the 39-year-old Portuguese star maintain regular contact.

Mbappé's fondness for Ronaldo is well-known, with a photo of the two footballers meeting at the Madrid training ground in 2012 circulating widely. Reflecting on their connection, Mbappé stated, "It's truly an honor, everyone knows the respect I have for him. He is still a legend and we are in contact, but I hope tomorrow that we can win. We have to appreciate who he is and what he has done -- he is a unique player. His CV speaks for itself."

When asked if he aspired to follow in Ronaldo's footsteps after his own move to Real Madrid, where the Portuguese star is the all-time leading goal scorer, Mbappé emphasized his desire to carve out his own path, saying, "There is only one of him. Me, I just want to follow my own route."

Meanwhile, France and Mbappé have faced challenges in their Euro 2024 campaign, struggling to find fluency on the field. In their four games so far, Les Bleus have failed to score from open play, relying on a penalty from Mbappé and own goals to progress. The team's recent victory over Belgium in the round-of-16 was secured through a closely fought contest, which saw a crucial own goal from Jan Vertonghen.

This lack of free-flowing football has led to murmurs of discontent in France. However, French manager Didier Deschamps appeared unfazed by the criticism, stating, "The critics, you are there to do your job. They have always been part of my daily life. Today, it does not stop me from living in peace."

As France prepares to face Portugal in the quarterfinals, all eyes are on the anticipated clash between two football powerhouses. Will Mbappé and his teammates find their rhythm and secure a victory, or will Ronaldo and the Portuguese team prove too formidable? Football fans around the world eagerly await the answer on Friday.