Champions League

Kylian Mbappe: "Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the decline"

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 07 February 2018

Kylian Mbappe claims that Cristiano Ronaldo "is not on the decline", as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to lock horns with Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has played down Cristiano Ronaldo's disappointing domestic form this season and insists that the Portuguese is still a "great player".

Mbappe will come up against the Real Madrid superstar in this month's blockbuster Champions League last-16 tie, beginning with next week's first leg at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo has scored just eight goals in 17 La Liga outings this term - well below his usual average - but has been impressive as ever on the continent, finding the net nine times in six group-stage outings.

With seven days to go until two of the world's most-expensive players face off, Mbappe claims that there is little to suggest the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is losing his goalscoring prowess.

"Ronaldo is not on the decline. If he is on the decline, there are many more players on the decline then," he told reporters after PSG's 4-1 cup win against Sochaux on Tuesday night.

"He is a great player. But we hope he will remain quiet against us. We will prepare for the game by paying attention to all their strengths. And he is one of their strengths in the team."

Madrid have won the Champions League three times in the last four years, including back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.