Tensions have been running high across the football world this week after Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments downplaying the importance of the World Cup sparked a heated debate between players and fans. The Portuguese legend is said to have called the global tournament “just a tournament of seven or eight games”, implying that it should not define a player’s legacy.
But in a surprising turn of events, one of Ronaldo’s biggest fans, Kylian Mbappé, has spoken out – and his comments are sending shockwaves across Europe.
While Mbappé has long expressed his admiration for Ronaldo, even calling him his “idol” as a child, the French superstar has made no secret of it this time. Appearing before reporters after a charity event in Paris, he addressed the controversy directly:
“With all due respect to Cristiano, the World Cup is not just seven or eight games. It’s a dream built over many years. You carry the hopes of an entire nation, the weight of history and the pressure of billions of people watching. It’s not something you can just walk away from.”
His measured and candid response immediately went viral on social media, with fans praising the young striker for his balance of respect and honesty. Some even described it as the moment Mbappé “stepped out of the shadow of his idol”.
Those close to the France team say Mbappé has been upset by the comment ever since it emerged. “He worships Ronaldo, everyone knows that,” a source revealed. “But when someone downplays the significance of the World Cup, especially for a player who won it at 19, it’s annoying.”
Ronaldo’s comments, which reportedly came in a separate interview about individual achievements versus team achievements, were met with mixed reactions from his fellow professionals. Some agreed that domestic and Champions League consistency was more important, while others – like Mbappé – saw the World Cup as the ultimate measure of greatness in football.
In a telling moment, Mbappé added:
“You can win everything with your club, but when you lift that trophy for your country, it’s different. It’s immortality.”
As expected, fans from both sides – Ronaldo loyalists and Mbappé supporters – flooded online forums with heated debate. Some have suggested that Mbappé’s words signal a generational divide, with the young star representing a new perspective on legacy and passion.
Neither Ronaldo nor his camp have spoken publicly about Mbappé’s statement yet. But one thing is certain – in a sport built on pride and glory, the World Cup remains the ultimate stage, and Kylian Mbappé has just made his stance clear.
