Ronaldo, the all-time leading goal scorer for Madrid, praised Mbappe and urged fans to show him their support.

Cristiano Ronaldo compared Kylian Mbappe’s current situation to his and said if he’d show the former PSG star how to play as number 9 if he was still at Madrid

“Look after the lad,” Ronaldo expressed in a preview of his interview with the Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, set to air in full on Monday. “The fans need to support him. He’s exceptional. The club must help protect him; I have no doubt he will bring joy to Madrid supporters,” he added.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasized that his admiration for Mbappe goes beyond their history, stating, “I appreciate [Mbappé] not just because he idolized me as a child; I believe he is a top player.”

Ronaldo, who wore the number 9 jersey during his first season at Madrid, acknowledged that playing as a striker can be challenging for someone who hasn’t played that role before.

“It’s complicated because, in my opinion, he doesn’t fully know how to play as a forward—not that he can’t, but it’s not his natural position,” Ronaldo noted.

He reiterated the similarity between their situations, saying he would have shown Mbappe how to thrive as a number 9 if he were still at Madrid.

“If I were at Madrid, I’d teach him how to play that role. I wasn’t originally a forward; I adapted, but I was primarily a winger. Many forget that. I was a forward, but not in the traditional sense. I believe [Mbappé] shouldn’t conform to being a typical forward; he should play in his own style,” he concluded.