Mbappe Faces Ronaldo in Euro Quarterfinal Amidst Injury and Club Speculation

Kylian Mbappe, the talismanic forward for France, has yet to reach his peak performance at Euro 2024 despite leading his team into the quarter-finals against Portugal on Friday. The tournament has been overshadowed by speculation about his club future and a broken nose sustained in the opening match.

Mbappe, 25, will once again don a protective face mask in Hamburg, a necessity after the injury he suffered against Austria. Despite his discomfort with the mask, he remains the focal point of a French team that has reached the quarter-finals with just three goals in four matches.

France's Expected Goals (XG) metric, which measures the quality of chances created, stands at nearly seven, surpassed only by Spain, Portugal, and Germany. Mbappe's own XG is 2.54, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo and Kai Havertz.

Mbappe's frustration stems from his inability to replicate his success at the World Cups at the Euros. He was instrumental in France's triumphs in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, scoring a hat-trick in the latter's final defeat to Argentina. However, his only goal in seven Euros appearances is a penalty against Poland.

"My Euros didn't start like I wanted, but I am here to help the team and I really want to have success with this team," Mbappe said before the victory against Belgium. "The Euros is the only thing I have not won with the national team, so I really want to win it."

France assistant coach Guy Stephan acknowledged that Mbappe was "traumatized" by the collision that resulted in his broken nose. Additionally, his difficult final season at Paris Saint-Germain may have contributed to his subdued form.

Mbappe's impending clash with Portugal holds added significance as he faces his boyhood hero, Cristiano Ronaldo. The completion of his move to Real Madrid has fulfilled a long-held dream, and his admiration for Ronaldo played a role in his decision.

Now, Mbappe has the opportunity to become the star in Madrid, where Ronaldo reigned supreme for nearly a decade. However, he knows that to keep his dream of winning the European Championship alive, he must first overcome Portugal and potentially end Ronaldo's illustrious international career.

Tags: #Euro2024, #KylianMbappe, #CristianoRonaldo, #France, #Portugal