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Marcus Rashford has wished Kylian Mbappe good luck after France dumped England out of the World Cup.
The Three Lions saw their campaign in Qatar come to a halt on Saturday evening, falling to a 2-1 defeat to the defending champions at the quarter-final stage.
Following Harry Kane’s missed penalty that would have levelled the contest, Rashford came off the bench with 85 minutes on the clock but was unable to drag his side back into the game.
‘The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions, each and every one of our team gave everything we had to be ready for what was thrown at us, we got close, but not close enough,’ Rashford wrote on Instagram following England’s elimination.
‘I’ll make a promise that we will come again! Thank you for the unconditional support we have received throughout the tournament, it hasn’t gone unnoticed.’
Rashford’s words were applauded by names across the game, from current and former teammates to former strikers in Ian Wright and Patrick Kluivert.
Mbappe also responded to Rashford’s post with a heart emoji, with the Manchester United star commenting: ‘Good luck with the rest of the tournament brother! Go smash it king’.
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Mbappe is the World Cup’s top scorer with five goals in five appearances with Les Blues taking on Morocco in their semi-final clash this week.
Rashford has been linked with a move to join Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain, with the French champions exploring the possibility of signing him on a free transfer.
The England international’s contract expires at the end of the season but United have the option to extend it by a further 12 months, with Erik ten Hag eager to see the player he has likened to Mbappe keep thriving in Manchester.
‘From the first moment, I recognised huge potential,’ ten Hag said.
‘And now to get out the potential, I believe when Marcus’s positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world.
‘There is Mbappé in this moment, a type like him. But when he [Rashford]’s getting in that position [on the back of the defensive line], he’s great and you see he’s really improved also out of possession.
‘One of the first things I said to him was ‘come to training and smile’, that gives you energy when you are happy.
‘Marcus was one from the start who came with a smile to Carrington, from the first moment, it really was a joy to work with him. I recognise his talent. I think he is happier off the pitch too.’
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