Brazilian football icon Ronaldo has shared his admiration for France captain Kylian Mbappé (27) in an extensive conversation with L’Equipe, describing the Real Madrid striker as one of the standout players in world football today. Mbappé recently surpassed Ronaldo’s own World Cup goal tally after netting twice against Iraq. With four goals already in the current World Cup, his total now stands at 16—just three shy of Lionel Messi’s all-time record.

Ronaldo, who once held the World Cup scoring record before Germany’s Miroslav Klose overtook him in 2014, spoke with grace about the achievement. “All records are meant to be broken. Football is about more than just numbers; it’s also about the legacy you leave behind,” he remarked. The two-time World Cup winner from 1994 and 2002 believes both Messi and Mbappé are worthy contenders to be recognised as the tournament’s greatest-ever scorers.

Reflecting on Mbappé’s style of play, Ronaldo—renowned in the 1990s for his extraordinary mix of speed, strength, and finishing ability—drew parallels between himself and the French star. “When I watch Mbappé, I see a lot of myself during my prime. He’s one of the finest players in the world today and a true successor to football’s greatest legends,” Ronaldo said.