Kylian Mbappé has revealed that his idolization of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane played a pivotal role in his dream of joining Real Madrid, a move that was realized in 2024 after years of speculation.
In an exclusive interview, Mbappé opened up about his deep admiration for the two football legends, revealing that they were a major influence on his desire to play for the iconic club.
Mbappé’s Childhood Dream of Madrid
Mbappé, who almost signed for Real Madrid in 2022, explained that his connection to the club goes back to his childhood. He said, “I live a dream every day to play here. Zidane was my idol, I started because of him. This club has an aura, it’s the best in the world. Since Cristiano arrived I followed every game; he was my other idol.”
The Paris Saint-Germain forward also recalled a memorable moment when he met Zidane at just 13 years old. “I met Zidane here when I was 13. I spent a week in Valdebebas and could only speak to Zidane because I didn’t speak any other language than French. There were opportunities to stay, but it wasn’t possible because of my family. I couldn’t come alone.”
Mbappé’s Impressive Start at Madrid
After a relatively quiet start to his Real Madrid career, Mbappé has truly flourished. This season, he has netted an impressive 33 goals in 51 appearances, becoming the second-highest scorer in La Liga, just behind Robert Lewandowski.
Looking Ahead: Champions League and La Liga Goals
Mbappé’s next challenge is to lead Real Madrid in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash with Arsenal on Tuesday, with the first leg set to take place at the Emirates. Following that, Madrid will face Alaves in La Liga, before returning home for the second leg against the Gunners in Madrid.
