Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario has praised French forward Kylian Mbappe during an interview with French outlet L'Equipe at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.
Ronaldo compared Mbappe's style to his own peak years.
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Mbappe has recorded four goals and two assists in the tournament, scoring braces against Senegal and Iraq before playing a creative role against Norway.
Ronaldo Backs Neymar, Ancelotti
Ronaldo expressed confidence in Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, saying, "I have tremendous confidence in Ancelotti’s work and his ability to calm the atmosphere and get the best out of his players."
He also supported Neymar's inclusion in the Brazil squad, citing the player's decisiveness and medical clearance.
"I supported the call for a good reason: Neymar is decisive.
I don’t see another player in the current squad with his ability to win a match," Ronaldo said.
He compared Neymar's situation to his own 2002 comeback.
Ronaldo also addressed World Cup scoring records, noting that Lionel Messi and Mbappe have overtaken him.
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"All records are meant to be broken," he said.
He called Messi "one of the greatest players in football history" and said Mbappe's style reminds him of his peak.
Ronaldo named France, Spain, and Argentina as tournament favorites, with Germany as a dangerous contender.
He also endorsed Zinedine Zidane as a future France coach, citing his work at Real Madrid.
"You also have to think about the legacy you leave. But they are both, without a doubt, players who transcend statistics," Ronaldo said.
Meanwhile, France coach Didier Deschamps rejoined the national camp on Saturday after attending his mother's funeral.
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France will face Sweden in the Round of 32 on July 1.
