Ronaldo Hails Mbappé As True Football Heir
Ronaldo hailed French striker Mbappé as his true football successor after the 22-year-old matched Messi's World Cup record with six goals and two assists in France's 3-0 win over Sweden.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has praised French striker Kylian Mbappé, calling him his true successor in the sport. Mbappé scored two more goals in France's 3-0 demolition of Sweden in the 2026 World Cup group stage, bringing his World Cup tally to six goals and two assists—matching Lionel Messi's achievement.
Ronaldo acknowledged that while his football heir is not Brazilian, Mbappé deserves the recognition because his complete playing style—combining speed, dribbling, and clinical finishing—reminds him greatly of himself. "We must always remember the legacy left behind by these players," Ronaldo said. "Both Messi and Mbappé transcend statistics and deserve to be ranked among the all-time highest World Cup scorers in football history. Messi is one of the greatest footballers ever and remains a game-changer today, while Mbappé's style of play takes me back to my peak years. He is one of the best players of our era and the natural heir to the greatest legends in world football."
