Micah Richards experienced a moment of overwhelming excitement, leading him to run out of the CBS Sports studio, after Kylian Mbappé named him his favorite pundit during a post-match interview.
Mbappé appeared on the US network CBS for an interview following Real Madrid's 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter Milan, a match in which he scored. Richards, an analyst for CBS Sports, had prepared a poem for the French international. Upon host Kate Abdo announcing Mbappé's first appearance on the show in six years, Richards expressed his delight.
"Kylian! Finally we meet my friend," Richards exclaimed. He then moved towards the screen to offer a virtual hug to Mbappé, who reciprocated the gesture with a laugh. Richards then returned to his seat and recited his poem:
"Speed like lightning, a finish so clean, Kylian Mbappé, the football machine. From Paris to Madrid, he's chasing his dream. A star of the pitch, the king of the scene. My man!"
Following the poem, Richards asked Mbappé, "Who's your favourite on the show, baby?" To Richards' surprise and delight, Mbappé responded, "I would have to say you."
In immediate reaction, Richards stood up, celebrated with a gesture reminiscent of Alan Shearer's iconic celebration, and declared, "See you later, I'm retiring now!" as he exited the studio. The moment quickly gained traction on social media, with a clip posted to X by CBS Sports receiving over 10,000 likes.
During the interview, Mbappé also shared his positive impressions of his new Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho. "Jose Mourinho makes you feel alive," Mbappé stated. "He makes you feel special. He is a guy who puts a lot of pressure and high intensity in training. He talks a lot with the players, and we know what he wants from us, what he expects from us. When a coach gives you that confidence and that hunger, you do not want to disappoint him, and you want to give your best."
After the match, where Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for Real Madrid, Mourinho praised his star forward. "I rank him right up there among the players I've coached," Mourinho said. "I don't like comparisons... I've had players like Ronaldo Nazario. But Kylian is right up there! Kylian is incredible."