Mbappe excited to face 'hero' Ronaldo and 'icon' Zidane

Kylian Mbappe could have been on the other side of PSG and Real Madrid's Champions League tie, but he is determined to get the victory.

PSG star Kylian Mbappe is excited at the prospect of squaring off against childhood hero Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo and head-coach Zinedine Zidane.

Kylian Mbappe is excited by the challenge of taking on childhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo and France "icon" Zinedine Zidane when Paris Saint-Germain meets Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

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PSG was given scant reward for topping a group that contained Bayern Munich as it was paired with the reigning European champion, which finished second in its pool behind Tottenham.

Madrid's stuttering form this season perhaps has the runaway Ligue 1 leader as favourite for the tie, which will see Mbappe take on a club he has revealed he came close to joining before sealing a move - initially on a season-long loan - to PSG.

READ: Mbappe reveals Real Madrid talks ahead of PSG move

But the presence of Ballon d'Or holder Ronaldo will keep Madrid interested, as well as providing motivation for Mbappe to shine in the knockout stages once again after his starring role for Monaco last term.

"He is a hero from my childhood and it was amazing to meet him when I visited Valdebebas," Mbappe told Marca of Ronaldo.

"But I am a competitor and a person who is very competitive and all I want to do is win, win, win. So it doesn't really matter who is in front of us, we want to win.

"I admired him when I was younger, but that ended. Now I go to the Bernabeu to play and to win.

"You learn from them, of course. From someone who has won five Ballons d'Or you can learn a lot. 

"He's a great player, but I have those here too.

"Neymar is here and I think he is very similar and is at practically the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo. I learn from [Edinson] Cavani as a goalscorer too."

READ: Neymar wants 'history' with Real scalp

Asked to name a homegrown icon from his childhood, Mbappe was quick to praise the man that will be in the opposition dugout.

"Well, I had Zidane. But everyone in France loved Zidane," he added.

"Anyone who likes football knows that he is a special case. What he is doing with Real Madrid since he became a coach is incredible, because I know that in that club it's not easy. 

"He's taken a lot of pressure, maybe because he knows the club very well from his time as a player. He won the respect of everyone and I'm pleased for Zidane, for everything he's achieved."