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Mbappé rules out playing for France until 41 like Ronaldo

Asked about Cristiano Ronaldo's international longevity, Kylian Mbappé ruled out a similar scenario for himself, arguing that French supporters will push him toward the exit well before his 40s.

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Mbappé rules out playing for France until 41 like Ronaldo
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Kylian Mbappé does not see himself imitating Cristiano Ronaldo and wearing the France shirt until age 41. In an interview with German daily Bild on Wednesday, the captain of the Blues justified this conviction with an unexpected reason: pressure from the French public itself.

“Let’s be honest, given the country I play for… France will never let me play until I’m 41,” said the Real Madrid striker, 27 years old and boasting 106 caps (66 goals) with the Blues. A lucid statement, tinged with self-deprecation, that contrasts with the genuine admiration he expresses for the Portuguese star.

“Cristiano proves that if you are physically fit, mentally fit, you can play at this level for a long time,” he acknowledged. “But in my case, I don’t believe it.”

These statements come as Mbappé steps up his public appearances as part of his campaign for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. While the horizon of his international retirement remains unclear, the Bondy native seems to have grasped a reality specific to French football: the demands of the tricolour public leave little room for Ronaldo-style longevity, with Portugal still tolerating his presence well into his 40s.

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