Sport
“Mbappe Can Reach Ronaldo’s Level but It Won’t Be Easy” – Ancelotti Says
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Kylian Mbappe has what it takes to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary status at the club. However, he made it clear that achieving such a feat will require serious dedication and hard work.
The Italian coach acknowledged that matching Ronaldo’s impact is no small task but expressed confidence in the French forward’s potential. Speaking about Mbappe’s recent performance, Ancelotti emphasized that while the striker has the quality, it will take effort and consistency to reach the same heights.
“Mbappe has a lot of talent and can reach Cristiano’s level, but Ronaldo set the bar extremely high,” Ancelotti said. “He’s just starting his journey at Madrid, and he’s excited, but it won’t be easy—he has to put in the work. Everyone was waiting for this hat-trick from him, and now it has finally come.”
The coach also pointed out that while Mbappe is a key player, he isn’t the only one capable of making a difference on the pitch. “We have many players who contribute, not just through individual brilliance but also through teamwork,” he added.
Mbappe’s hat-trick helped Real Madrid secure a 3-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League second-leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was his first treble for Los Blancos since joining on a free transfer from PSG in the summer of 2024.
The Frenchman has always been vocal about his admiration for Ronaldo, often calling him his football idol. On the other hand, Ronaldo had previously stated that if he were at Madrid, he would teach Mbappe how to excel as a number nine.
“If I was at Madrid, I’d show him how to play as a number nine. I wasn’t a forward, but I adapted,” Ronaldo said in a recent interview.
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Former Manchester City player David Silva has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or and revealed who he believes could win the prestigious award.
During a recent interview, the former midfielder was asked who he thinks will win the award, and he named Fabian Ruiz.
Silva’s choice sparked reactions from fans, especially as he did not mention Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as one of his picks.
“For me, teamwork is the most important thing, because without it you cannot win. If I had to give the Ballon d’Or to someone, it would be Fabian, because he has won the most titles in the last two years.
“He does not get enough recognition, I do not know why, because he is a wonderful player. I admire him a lot.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal national team remains uncertain following his sudden departure from the squad ahead of the team’s Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old forward left the national team camp after he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway and was informed that he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo later said he would explain his decision to leave the camp at a later time.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has since said the door remains open for Ronaldo to return to the national team. Jesus said the decision ultimately rests with Ronaldo, while the Portuguese Football Federation has also described the situation as a misunderstanding.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, and his next decision could determine how his international career ends.
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