“Mbappé praises Brazil and awaits an invitation from Vinícius to see Flamengo.”

Kylian Mbappé, the prodigy of world football, is unafraid to acknowledge Brazil’s power in the sport. On the eve of an exciting clash between France and Brazil in Boston, the French forward shared his thoughts on the rivalry with Brazilian stars, including Neymar and Vinícius Júnior. With a smile, Mbappé made it clear that he does not see his team as the favorite for the match, stating that “you can never be the favorite against a team that has five stars on their shirt.” This statement is not just a show of respect, but a declaration of the magnitude of Brazilian football history.

In a revealing interview, the 24-year-old striker praised Neymar, his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, even in light of the tensions that marked their relationship in Paris. “I believe it can be both. Vini now needs to take a step up in the national team, but Neymar is Neymar. Neymar is a great player,” said Mbappé, highlighting Neymar’s importance in the context of Brazilian and world football. According to him, the World Cup is “the competition of stars,” and he cannot imagine a tournament without the presence of the Brazilian star.

In addition to discussing the players, Mbappé also acknowledged Brazil’s rich football tradition, symbolized by its five World Cup victories. “Brazil is the greatest football country. For us, it’s an opportunity to play against Brazil, to show our quality, what we are capable of doing, and to prepare to win the World Cup this summer,” he added, demonstrating the ambition of the French national team.

The forward did not hesitate to agree with Vinícius Júnior, who had already stated that there are no friendly matches between the two teams. “He is right, because they are two great teams and in the end, we will talk a lot in the locker room about who wins,” he said. The rivalry is intense, but mutual respect is evident. “Only on the field are there no friends, but after the game, we are all friends,” he concluded.

In a lighter tone, Mbappé joked about the possibility of watching a Flamengo match, now under the management of Leonardo Jardim. “Who knows? We never know what will happen. I will ask Vini if he lets me go see a Flamengo game in the Copa Libertadores,” he said, showing that despite the competitive pressure, there is room for moments of camaraderie.

Finally, the young forward reflected on his experience with renowned coaches, such as Didier Deschamps and Carlo Ancelotti. “It’s very good that they are completely different; they have a vision of football that is different. For me, as a player, it’s a golden opportunity because I see two different ways of winning, of learning football,” he concluded, emphasizing the importance of learning from each mentor.

As the anticipation builds for the big game, Mbappé’s words resonate not only among the fans but also among the players themselves, who are ready to put on a show on the pitch and honor the rich history of football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.