Mbappé reveals which players he would like to face in the World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will bring together the biggest stars in the world of football. Kylian Mbappé, star of favorites France, revealed who he would like to face in the competition.
"Cristiano (Ronaldo), because I think this will be his last World Cup, or maybe Neymar, because it will probably be his last too. One of those two, because after that, they won't be able to play anymore", said the striker in an interview with the portal "Sorare".
Mbappé's relationships with Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo
Mbappé played with Neymar for six seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. Together, they won ten titles, including four national leagues, and reached the 2020 Champions League final. However, the relationship between the two deteriorated over time. The most turbulent period happened between 2021 and 2023, especially after the arrival of Lionel Messi.
Years later, Neymar stated that Kylian would have been uncomfortable with the dynamics created by Messi's presence and with the divided attention within the squad. According to the Brazilian, this contributed to changes in behavior and some fights between them. He also pointed out the excessive ego in the group as one of the reasons for the sporting failure of PSG's star project.
In addition, there were public episodes of friction, such as the dispute over penalty kicks in 2022 and reports in the French press about a merely cordial environment between the two. At the time, Mbappé acknowledged that they had moments of greater closeness and others of distance, but insisted that there was always mutual respect.
In relation to Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé has already stated on a few occasions that the Portuguese star is his idol. However, both never played together, but faced each other four times, all for national teams:
- France 0 x 0 Portugal - 11/10/2020 - Group stage of the UEFA Nations League France (French victory on penalties) - 07/05/2024 - Euro 2024 quarter-finals
Selection: Ancelotti rules out cutting Neymar for World Cup
Source: CNN