The Mercury News 2024-07-06 The Mercury News - Last update images today The Mercury News Funding Cuts And Austerity: What's Next For The 'right-sized' A-League? Kylian Mbappé has praised Cristiano Ronaldo as "unique" ahead of France's quarterfinal clash with Portugal on Friday, adding that he and the 39-year-old stay in contact regularly. Mbappé's fandom for Ronaldo is well known, with the France captain having posted a picture of him meeting his then-hero at the Madrid training ground in 2012 when his recent free transfer to Real Madrid was announced. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday ahead of the game in Hamburg, Mbappé said of Ronaldo: "It's truly an honour, everyone knows the respect I have for him. He is still a legend and we are in contact but I hope tomorrow that we can win. "We have to appreciate who he is and what he has done -- he is a unique player. His CV speaks for itself." Asked if he wanted to replicate Ronaldo after his move to Madrid, for whom the Portuguese star is the all-time leading goal scorer, Mbappé added: "There is only one of him. Me, I just want to follow my own route. "I hope I will write a great story at Madrid but it will be different." Mbappé and France have struggled for fluency at Euro 2024. They are yet to score from open play in four games, relying on a penalty from the former Paris Saint-Germain player and own goals to progress -- the most recent coming from Jan Vertonghen in a closely fought round-of-16 contest with Belgium. That absence of flowing football has created murmurs of discontent in France, though manager Didier Deschamps appeared unbothered at the news conference. "There are people who may not be happy but I have seen happy people. It is more exciting to win 5-4, that's for sure," he said. "The critics, you are there to do your job. They have always been part of my daily life. Today, it does not stop me from living in peace." GettyImages 1809476869 ?w=1024&h=683 1299972 Mercury Cover 2024 January 9 Issue 1324245 The Mercury Cover February 26 2024 Issue Ilm 931952 Mercury Cover 2023 March 28 Issue Mercury Screenshot 1259898 Mercury Cover 2023 October 30 Issue 1026690 Mercury Cover 2023 April 18 Issue 5325146 ?t=1632492475 1303723 Mercury Cover 2024 January 17 Issue Untitled Design 19 3 1055148 Leicester Mercury Cover May 25 2023 Issue ItAa4qPCGH5H355dftgyG5cPpVpIp7 WHzcU 1x7BTBdNypw2MhfbPlGdrDQJhZCtDk=h900 899171 Mercury Cover 2023 January 20 Issue Page 1 02.20.22 Cameron 4MoreReasonsToBuyNew 1 ?w=1024&h=683 1300470 Mercury Cover 2024 January 10 Issue ICMGP Mobile Header ?v=2022.10.20.3.57.49 7QAMMN005 910292 Mercury Cover 2023 February 13 Issue 1303724 Mercury Cover 2024 January 16 Issue 1301536 The Mercury Cover January 12 2024 Issue 1306583 Leicester Mercury Cover January 22 2024 Issue 928713 Mercury Cover 2023 March 20 Issue 20213a58cd81d09767f56f32d03873cb 1050520 Mercury Cover 2023 May 18 Issue 929704 The Mercury Cover March 22 2023 Issue 1301062 The Mercury Cover January 11 2024 Issue 1311121 The Mercury Cover February 01 2024 Issue Ilm Exhibitions 1024633 Mercury Cover 2023 April 17 Issue Ea3dd1537be9ff52ebe3233207ebfa99 Mercury Retrograde Calendar 2024 Part2 Copyright 2023 Roman Oleh Yaworsky 2 931730 The Mercury Cover March 27 2023 Issue 905571 Mercury Cover 2023 February 3 Issue