Kylian Mbappe has said he doesn’t expect to represent France until the age of 41, despite Cristiano Ronaldo continuing to play international football at that age. Mbappe made the comments in an interview with German newspaper Bild, as he discussed his career and Ronaldo’s long career.
Asked whether he could continue playing for France until 41 like Ronaldo, the Real Madrid forward joked that France would never allow him to do so. He added that Ronaldo has shown that players can remain at a very high level for a long time if they stay physically and mentally fit.
Ronaldo, 41, remains part of Portugal’s national team under new head coach Jorge Jesus. He was included in Portugal’s latest 25-man squad for Nations League matches in September 2026. Ronaldo had earlier said that the 2026 World Cup would be his final World Cup, while leaving his wider international retirement decision open.
Mbappe, who is France’s captain, is entering a new period with the national team following Didier Deschamps’ departure. Zinedine Zidane has taken charge of France and confirmed that Mbappe will continue as captain. France’s new campaign includes Nations League matches against Türkiye, Belgium and Italy.
