Mbappe laughs off suggestions that Ronaldo is on the decline

Cristiano Ronaldo has been below his best this season, but Kylian Mbappe denied claims the Real Madrid star was on the decline.

forward Kylian Mbappe dismissed suggestions star Cristiano Ronaldo is on the decline.

Ronaldo has been below his usual incredible level this season, including scoring just eight goals in 17 games, with his Madrid side suffering along the way.

Los Blancos are now 19 points back of in the Spanish top flight, having dropped points against at the weekend thanks to a late leveler from Giampaolo Pazzini.

But the Portuguese star has netted nine times in six outings heading into his team's last-16 first leg against leaders PSG, and Mbappe doesn't think his side can count on the 33-year-old's being below his best when they face off.

"Ronaldo is not on the decline. If he is on the decline, there are many more players on the decline then," he said after PSG's win over Sochaux on Tuesday.

"He is a great player. But we hope he will remain quiet against us.

"We will prepare for the game by paying attention to all their strengths. And he is one of their strengths in the team."

While Mbappe feels that Ronaldo will be a threat for PSG to deal with, he believes a former Los Blancos star could help make the difference for his side in the tie.

Angel Di Maria turned in a star showing for the Paris club in their 4-1 smashing of Sochaux, netting a hat-trick, and the youngster believes his Argentine team-mate has done enough to earn a starting spot in the Champions League last 16.

"We all know very well how important Di Maria is to us," he said. "When he is like that, it's good for the whole team and it allows us to win a few games in a row.

"Yes, he deserves to start against Real Madrid, but I'm not the coach.

"But he does some beautiful things. It's great for everyone."

The first leg of the tie will be played in Madrid February 14 with the return match set to take place in Paris on March 6.

Both sides lost just once in the Champions League group stage, though Madrid finished second to in Group H, while the French outfit edged out Bayern to win Group B.