Mbappe Says France Would Never Let Him Play Until 41 Like Ronaldo

Kylian Mbappe does not expect to follow Cristiano Ronaldo by representing his country at the age of 41, largely because France would be unlikely to tolerate the arrangement.

The Real Madrid forward discussed Ronaldo’s extraordinary international longevity during an interview with German newspaper Bild.

Asked whether he could continue playing for France until the same age, Mbappe laughed and replied: “France would never let me play until I’m 41.”

It was an honest assessment of both his own future and the patience available to ageing French footballers.

Ronaldo remains involved with Portugal at 41, demonstrating that a player can continue competing internationally long after most careers have ended.

Mbappe praised his childhood idol for maintaining the physical and mental condition required to perform at the highest level for such an extended period.

“But Cristiano shows that if you’re in good physical and mental shape, you can play at this high level for a long time,” he said.

The France captain added that he did not believe the same outcome would be possible in his own case.

Mbappe is 27, meaning another 14 years would be required before the theory could be properly tested. By then, France will presumably have produced several hundred more attacking players and at least one teenager being described as the next Mbappe.

Ronaldo has turned international longevity into a personal endurance event. Mbappe already appears aware that France may decline to enter him.