- Just looking at the stats, 23-year-old Lionel Messi (at Barcelona) is well ahead of Kylian Mbappe
- Messi has won three Ballon d’Or and three Champions League titles, while Mbappe has yet to win any at the same age
- Messi still outclasses his peers at 23, but Mbappe could be the next superstar
- Kylian Mbappe says he’s now ready to win his first Ballon d’Or
- Mbappe says domination by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is over and someone else needs to take over
At 17, Kylian Mbappe made his AS Monaco debut. His performances over the years have also proven that he will achieve a lot. Without a doubt, Mbappe has become one of the most respected attackers in football and is on his way to the pinnacle of professional football.
Mbappe is now 23 years old and is often compared to those elite footballers. Especially compared with the two giants – Lionel Messi and Ronaldo – Mbappe also seems to say that he will be the heir to both. Speaking to The New York Times, the 23-year-old sent out a strong message to these two:
“I think I’m about to win the Ballon d’Or. I always say I dream about everything. I have no limits. So, of course, as you say, it’s a new generation. And Ronaldo, Messi — you’re gonna stop. We have to find someone else, someone new.”
The “victory” that brought Mbappe to football’s attention was the 2018 World Cup. Mbappe’s World Cup win for France in Russia four years ago could be named after him in a way. But despite this, Messi has achieved more than Mbappe at the same age.
- First, Messi has already won three Ballon d’Or at the age of 23. It’s an all-time glory, and Mbappe has yet to win the Ballon d’Or (which should be very likely this year).
- Second, Messi had already won three Champions League titles by then, while Mbappe had not. In this regard, Mbappe’s best performance remains in PSG’s 2020 final loss to Bayern Munich.
- In the end, Mbappe’s five Ligue 1 titles can be compared to Messi’s four La Liga titles in domestic titles.
Anyway, Mbappe is a rare good player, and his future has infinite possibilities. Over to you, Kylian!
