He can equal Cristiano at Real Madrid — Carlo Ancelotti hails star player

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has high praise for Kylian Mbappe, saying the striker has the potential to reach Cristiano Ronaldo's level at the club.

However, Ancelotti also emphasized that it won't be an easy feat, and Mbappe will need to put in the hard work to match Ronaldo's incredible standards.

"Mbappe has a lot of quality and can match Cristiano, yes, but Cristiano set the bar very high," Ancelotti said.

"Mbappe is just starting out at Madrid; he's enthusiastic. But it's not going to be that easy for Mbappe to reach Cristiano's level—he has to work."

He certainly made a strong case for himself with a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League play-off, helping Real Madrid secure a 3-1 win.

"Everyone was waiting for this hat-trick from him, and it has finally arrived," Ancelotti said.

"But Mbappe is not the only one; we have many players who make a difference. And they make a difference with their collective work above their individual quality, which is remarkable."