Did Ronaldo really choose Kylian Mbappe over Karim Benzema in the 'better player' challenge?

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his pick between French stars Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema in a "better player" challenge, sparking conversation among football fans worldwide. 

The Portuguese legend, who has shared the pitch with some of the greatest footballers in history, took part in a challenge on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, where he was asked to choose between some of his most distinguished former teammates and rising stars like Mbappe.

Ronaldo, at 39 years old, continues to be a force in world football. After an illustrious career spanning Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has earned 213 caps for Portugal and played a pivotal role in their Euro 2016 and Nations League triumphs. 

With no signs of slowing down, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's insights into his peers are always highly anticipated.

When asked to compare Benzema – his long-time teammate at Real Madrid – to French sensation Kylian Mbappe, Ronaldo sided with the younger superstar. 

Mbappe, who has taken on the iconic No.9 jersey at Santiago Bernabeu, edged out Benzema in Ronaldo's eyes, perhaps indicating the World Cup winner’s rise as a global football icon. 

Mbappe, already a Galactico, has aspirations of following in Ronaldo's footsteps by winning the coveted Ballon d'Or.

However, it wasn't just Mbappe who garnered Ronaldo's approval. The former Manchester United star also participated in other comparisons. 

Ronaldo chose his ex-United teammate Paul Scholes over Gary Neville, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Carlos Tevez. 

When it came to fellow iconic No.7s, David Beckham triumphed over Angel Di Maria but lost out to Ryan Giggs, who was Ronaldo’s pick against several former Real Madrid teammates, including Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Javier Hernandez, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, and Toni Kroos.

Ronaldo's choices have ignited debate among fans, especially after he snubbed six of his former Madrid teammates in favor of Giggs. 

The Welshman, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, won over several major names before ultimately losing out to Karim Benzema. 

Yet, when Benzema was pitted against Mbappe, Ronaldo handed the win to the younger star, further fueling the ongoing conversation about Mbappe’s potential to dominate football’s future.

As Ronaldo continues his career with Al-Nassr, these challenges offer a unique glimpse into how one of football’s greatest minds views the game and its players. 

With his decision to favor Mbappe over Benzema, fans are left wondering just how far the French star can go in emulating Ronaldo’s legendary career.