Senegal youngster Ibrahim Mbayé chooses Ronaldo over Messi

Aston Villa youngster Ibrahim Mbayé has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo is his football idol, while acknowledging that the Portuguese superstar and Lionel Messi stand above the rest when it comes to the greatest players of all time.

The young forward says Ronaldo’s mentality, discipline and relentless work ethic are the main reasons he looks up to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Speaking to CFootstyle, Mbayé admitted that although he has enormous respect for both Ronaldo and Messi, he personally considers himself firmly in Ronaldo’s camp.

“My idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. For me, Messi and Cristiano are the two greatest players of all time, but personally, I’m very much Team CR7,” Mbayé said.

The youngster explained that what particularly inspires him about Ronaldo is the Portuguese’s dedication to maintaining his standards despite his age.

“It’s because of his work ethic. The way he works, the guy never gives up,” he added.

Mbayé also pointed to Ronaldo’s continued involvement at the highest level as evidence of his extraordinary mentality, highlighting his ability to remain competitive and continue scoring goals well into his 40s.

“He’s 41 and he’s still playing in the World Cup—and scoring. It’s incredible. Even if some people don’t like him, you simply cannot overlook that,” he said.

For Mbayé, Ronaldo’s career represents more than just goals and trophies. The Portuguese forward’s commitment to training, physical preparation and constant improvement has made him a role model for the next generation of footballers.

The young attacker will now hope to follow a similar path as he continues developing his own career at the highest level.