A possible meeting with Brazil would not just be about shirts, flags and knockout tension. It would carry the personal history between Mbappé and Neymar, two forwards whose careers were once closely linked at club level.
That is why this part of the quote lands differently. It is not only admiration; it is familiarity.
With Ronaldo, the symbolism appears different: less shared past, more generational reverence. Mbappé has long seemed part of the football generation shaped by Ronaldo’s example, so a World Cup duel would feel like a passing-of-the-torch moment, even if neither player would frame it that way publicly.
The report also quotes Mbappé saying: “It will be their LAST World Cup.” That should be treated as his view of the moment, not a confirmed decision by either veteran.
This is what the World Cup does better than any other tournament: it turns possible fixtures into myth before a ball is kicked. Mbappé, Neymar and Ronaldo each carry a different football era, and a meeting between any two of them would instantly dominate the conversation.
For now, it remains a dream rather than a scheduled showdown. But as the road to 2026 sharpens, the draw - and the fitness and form of three superstars - will be the next storyline to watch.