In terms of bold statements, I may have slightly overstretched with this one but before a dozen angry French and PSG fans come and bite my head off, just let me plead my case.
As of now, the future for Kylian Mbappe is surrounded by question marks. After a fairly mediocre performance and a crucial missed penalty against Switzerland in last nights Euro 2020 Round of 16 matchup, a few questions have been raised surrounding the ability of footballs number one wunderkind. In 390 minutes of football at the Euro’s he managed 4 shots on target out of 14 attempts and was a major contributing factor in France’s early exit. Nevertheless, this is far from the end of Kylian Mbappe. At 22 years old he has a lot more football to play, but where he chooses to play may just decide his fate as an all-time great or a wunderkind bust.
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| Mbappe - thegaurdian.com |
I get it, it’s all a little dramatic. One bad game and Mbappe has gone from comparisons to some of footballs greatest ever talents to a look-a-like plumber from Leicester. However, his rise to the top of world football cannot be ignored, and at 22 he stands heads and shoulders above both Messi and Ronaldo in terms of pure statistical value. In 41 starts for PSG in the Champions League, Mbappe and netted 24 goals and 16 assists, playing alongside the likes of Angel Di Maria, Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe. In comparison, Messi and Ronaldo had combined for 17 goals and 12 assists at the same age. Yet in hindsight, these numbers are worthless as both Messi and Ronaldo possess one thing that the young Frenchman doesn’t - a Champions League winners medal. Even with the biggest bank account in Europe, PSG have been unable to capture a Champions League title which puts Mbappe closer and closer to Jamie Vardy territory.
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| Mbappe vs Messi vs Ronaldo - Getty Images |
Yes I know, that’s a bit of a jump, but hear me out. In 245 appearances for Leicester City in the much more competitive Premier League, Jamie Vardy has scored 118 goals, 42 of which have come against the ‘Big Six’, along with 38 assists and a pretty memorable league title. Considering Vardy’s advanced age and late blossom as a player, this is the stat sheet of a seriously feared Premier League striker. Now in comparison, Mbappe’s stats appear far superior, netting 107 goals in just 148 Ligue One appearances along with 42 assists. However, outside of a few select teams, Mbappe is essentially scoring his goals against the likes of French famers and a few of their amis from the pub. The two also share a similar style in play. Both players are blessed with blistering pace and world class finishing ability and utilise both to their advantage, receiving long through balls and getting in behind a-posing back lines before cooly slotting it past the keeper. Now, I’m not for a minute suggesting that Vardy is better than Mbappe, but the Frenchman is far closer to the Prince of Leicester than the King of Barcelona.
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| Jamie Vardy - skysports.com |
Unfortunately for football fans, we will never witness a Messi or Ronaldo like talent ever again, no matter how much money club bosses continue to throw at it. There is no question that as of now, Mbappe is one of the best players in world football and if he continues to develop, he could end his career in that great list of legendary names that, for a time, dominated on the biggest stage. But for a player who spent this years Euro’s as a shadow of his former self, question marks will continue to surround him until he decides to do something about it.
I think you are correct here !!
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