"I have been inspired by Lionel Messi" - Kylian Mbappe names 4 captains he looks up to, list doesn't include Cristiano Ronaldo
Kylian Mbappe has named the four captains who have influenced him the most throughout his footballing career. While the Frenchman's list included superstars like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, the new Real Madrid signing didn't name his childhood hero and sporting idol Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mbappe's love and admiration for Ronaldo has been widely documented. He is known to have had posters of the Portuguese superstar on his walls growing up. The 25-year-old's father has also said that his son would spend hours watching the Real Madrid legend's play online.
Mbappe was handed the captain's armband after Hugo Lloris retired from the France national team after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Like his idol Ronaldo, the former Paris Saint-Germain star is all set to lead his country at EURO 2024, his first-ever major tournament as skipper.
Despite Ronaldo's impact on Mbappe's career, he seemingly has not inspired the 2018 World Cup champion from a captaincy perspective. In a recent interview with the French football program Telefoot, the France international was asked about the importance of being a national leader and which captains he was inspired by.
Mbappe replied (via SportBible):
"I have been inspired by Leo Messi, Neymar, [Sergio] Ramos and [Gianluigi] Buffon."
Messi has captained Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Argentina, Neymar for Brazil, Ramos for Real Madrid, Spain, and Sevilla, and Gianluigi Buffon for Juventus, Parma, and Italy.
While Neymar has not won a trophy as captain with the Selecao, the other three are considered among the best and most successful captains in footballing history.
Mbappe played with all four players at PSG, which likely played a massive role in shaping his mindset as a captain.
"The latest news is positive" - France Football president delivers update on Kylian Mbappe's nose injury vs Austria
France Football (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has provided an update on the nose injury Kylian Mbappe suffered in their 1-0 win over Austria at EURO 2024 on Monday, June 17.
In the closing stages of the game, the 25-year-old collided with Austrian defender Kevin Danso while attempting a header and suffered a bloodied nose. It has put his availability for their upcoming game against the Netherlands in jeopardy, with many even fearing that he might have to require surgery.
However, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, June 18, Diallo dispelled the rumors of a potential surgery but was unsure if Mbappe would play against the Netherlands on Friday, June 21.
"Concerning his availability for the rest of the tournament, it's a little early to give you a schedule and we will wait for the final verdict from the doctors' tests this morning... We will wait for later in the day to see how it evolves. But I will reiterate, the latest news is positive due to him not needing an operation. Him having his tournament taken away from him is not the case," He said (via SportsMole).