Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has offered a candid assessment of Kylian Mbappé’s current understanding of the striker role, suggesting the French star is not yet adept at the position despite his prolific goal-scoring record.
Ronaldo, renowned for his own successful transition from a wide player to one of the game’s most lethal central forwards, believes Mbappé is still learning the nuances of playing as a number nine. His comments, reported by Football Tweet ⚽ (X), highlight a perceived gap in Mbappé’s development as a pure striker.
Ronaldo’s critique and self-comparison
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner did not mince words regarding Mbappé’s current capabilities in the central attacking role. “Mbappé doesn’t know how to play striker. My opinion is that he doesn’t know. It’s not his position,” Ronaldo stated. This observation comes amidst ongoing discussions about Mbappé’s optimal long-term position, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward often deployed across the front line.
Ronaldo drew a direct parallel to his own career path, where he evolved from a dazzling winger into a penalty-box predator. “Mbappé is very similar to me. I was a winger who became a striker,” Ronaldo explained, indicating that he sees the potential for Mbappé to follow a similar trajectory. However, he stressed the importance of a tailored approach rather than conforming to traditional striker archetypes.
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Advice for Mbappé’s development
While critical, Ronaldo’s remarks also carried a mentorship tone, offering advice on how Mbappé could refine his game. He urged Mbappé to forge his own path rather than adopting a conventional style. “He should do things his own way. He shouldn’t be a typical striker that camps the box and waits for the cross,” Ronaldo advised, emphasizing the need for a dynamic and personalized approach to the role.
In a hypothetical scenario, Ronaldo even suggested he would personally guide Mbappé if their careers had aligned. “If I was still at Madrid I’d teach him how to play as a No.9 because I wasn’t a striker either,” he added, underscoring his belief in Mbappé’s raw talent and the potential for significant growth with the right guidance.
Ronaldo’s insights provide a fascinating perspective on Mbappé’s positional evolution, coming from a player who mastered the art of reinvention to achieve unparalleled success in front of goal.
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