Kylian Mbappe says France will not let him follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s international path

France captain Kylian Mbappe says he does not expect to play international football until the age of 41, unlike his role model Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid forward believes Ronaldo’s career demonstrates that players can remain at the highest level for many years if they maintain the right physical and mental condition.

Ronaldo, now 41, remains a regular starter for Portugal and most recently represented his country at the 2026 World Cup. Mbappe, who is 27, does not appear to envisage extending his international career for as long as the current Al Nassr captain.

“Let’s be honest, considering the country I play for, France would not let me play until I was 41,” Mbappe told German newspaper Bild, laughing.

“But Cristiano proves that if you are at your best physically and mentally, you can play at this level for a long time,” he added, as reported by French outlet Foot Mercato.

“In my case, I don’t think that would be possible.”