New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo has spent nearly two decades proving himself as one of football’s greatest, but even he has to deal with a tough critic at home. His five-year-old son, Mateo, has made it clear that he prefers Kylian Mbappe over his own father. That’s right, the Portugal star admitted in an interview with Spanish outlet La Sexta that his son often tells him Mbappe is the better player.
“Mateo, he really likes Mbappe. He sometimes tells me: ‘Hey dad, Mbappe is better than you,’ and I reply by saying: ‘No, I am better than him, I have scored more goals,’” Ronaldo said with a smile.
It’s a debate many fans have had over the years, but it must be quite something to have it happen inside Ronaldo’s own home. The irony? Mbappe has spent his entire career idolising Ronaldo, even modelling his playing style after the former Real Madrid superstar.
Kylian Mbappe’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo comes full circle
🗣️ Cristiano Ronaldo: “My son Matteo loves Mbappé. He tells me that Mbappé is better than you. I tell him that your father was better, he has more goals (laughs).” @laSextaTV pic.twitter.com/EPsyEjaJK9
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) January 29, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo, now starring for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, continues to find the net with ease. He recently scored twice to take his tally to the top of the Saudi Pro League’s scoring charts. But while many see his goal-scoring heroics as a testament to his greatness, young Mateo remains more impressed by Kylian Mbappe’s magic at Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe has made an explosive start to life at the Bernabeu, scoring 15 goals in La Liga and 22 overall in his debut season after moving from Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward has always spoken highly of Ronaldo, once even admitting he had posters of the Portuguese icon in his room as a child.
The Portuguese icon, on the other hand, set a club record at Real Madrid with 450 goals between 2009 and 2018, winning five Ballon d’Ors, five Champions League titles, and multiple league trophies. However, Mbappe’s pace, dribbling, and finishing have drawn comparisons to a younger CR7, and the 25-year-old is determined to carve his own legacy in Madrid.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the idea of his son backing Mbappe over him is all in good fun. But it also speaks to how football evolves. Just as Ronaldo himself looked up to Brazilian legends like Ronaldo Nazario, the next generation is now growing up watching Mbappe and considering him their footballing hero.
Kylian Mbappe still has a long way to go to match Ronaldo’s numbers, but if he continues his current form, he could break several of his idol’s records. Whether Mateo ever changes his mind remains to be seen, but for now, Ronaldo will have to live with the fact that, at least in his own home, he’s been replaced as the GOAT.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s son is not impressed! While CR7 boasts about his goals, little Mateo insists Kylian Mbappe is better, leaving dad fighting for GOAT status in his own home. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
