Cristiano Ronaldo’s Son Picks His Idol—And It’s Not His Father

Every football fan grows up idolizing a player, and that applies even to the children of football legends. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s status as one of the greatest players of the 21st century, his son Mateo has chosen a different footballing hero—one that may come as a surprise.

In a recent interview with the Spanish program El Chiringuito de Jugones, Ronaldo revealed that his son looks up to French forward Kylian Mbappé. Despite his father’s incredible legacy, Mateo is convinced that the French star is the superior player.

"Mbappé Is Better Than You, Dad"

With a smile, Ronaldo shared how his son often teases him about his preference for Mbappé.

"My son Mateo really likes Mbappé. Sometimes he even tells me: ‘Dad, Mbappé is better than you,’” Ronaldo said, laughing.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, currently playing for Al Nassr, takes it in stride and playfully reminds his son of his goal-scoring record.

"I tell him, ‘No, your dad is better than Mbappé—I have more goals than him,’” he joked.

Mbappé’s Rise and Ronaldo’s Legacy

While Ronaldo continues to break records, recently reaching 921 career goals as he aims for the historic 1,000-goal milestone, Mbappé is carving out his own legacy. Since joining Real Madrid from PSG, the French striker has already scored 20 goals across competitions:

• 15 in La Liga
• 3 in the Champions League
• 1 in the Spanish Super Cup
• 1 in the UEFA Super Cup

Despite the friendly rivalry in the Ronaldo household, it’s clear that Mbappé has won over at least one young fan—perhaps signaling the start of a new generational shift in football idolization.