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With pundits galore labelling Kylian Mbappe an all-time FIFA World Cup great, FIFA+ decided to see how the France star compares to four of the tournament’s icons.
Mbappe vs Maradona
On Sunday, Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth and ninth FIFA World Cup goals, taking just 17 minutes to equal and then surge ahead of one of the biggest names in the history of the competition.
That legend of the game was none other than Diego Maradona, the much-missed Argentinian whose eight World Cup strikes came in 21 games across four editions (1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994). Mbappe required just 11 matches to overtake his total.
While Mbappe and Maradona both have one World Cup title to their name, El Pibe de Oro leads the way in Final appearances, having lifted the Trophy in 1986 before finishing a runner-up four years later.
The former Napoli ace also delivered a tournament record eight assists on the World Cup stage, underlining his status as more of a creator than a finisher. Indeed, his impact on Mexico 1986 remains iconic, with no other player having left such an unforgettable mark on a single edition. Only time will tell how Mbappe ends up faring at Qatar 2022.
Mbappe vs Klose
A World Cup debutant at the age of 23, Miroslav Klose announced his presence in stunning fashion at the 2002 edition, notching a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia as Germany began with an 8-0 win.
Twelve years later, he became the record goalscorer in the history of the competition with his 16th strike in a 7-1 defeat of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals. A World Cup winner that year, the former Werder Bremen forward remains a legend among legends, but his position at the top of the goal charts could be under threat from France’s gifted talisman.
Klose got the ball rolling on his personal tally aged 23 years and 11 months – the same age as Mbappe, who already has a World Cup title and nine goals under his belt. And while the former Germany striker finished with an average of 0.67 strikes per game, the Paris Saint-Germain forward is rattling along with a ratio of 0.81, putting him on course to eventually break the record.
Like Maradona, Klose won one World Cup Final and lost another, but unlike the Argentinian he contested four semi-finals and was never eliminated in an earlier round. That record could prove hard to beat for Mbappe.
Mbappe vs Ronaldo
Mbappe and Brazil great Ronaldo may be different types of forwards, but both wield the same ability to spark danger. For the latter, that translated into 15 World Cup goals, putting him second on the all-time list behind Klose, though he too is now being chased down by France’s dynamic front man.
As for how much he had achieved at Mbappe’s age, Ronaldo could also pride himself on a World Cup title by the time he reached 23 years and 11 months. However, that came at USA 1994, where the former Barcelona striker did not get a single minute of playing time. And though he followed up with five goals at France 1998, A Seleção missed out on the Trophy after losing the Final 3-0 to the hosts. In other words, Mbappe is already a step ahead of the Brazil legend.
Nevertheless, the France star still has a long to way to go if he hopes to one day match or surpass Ronaldo’s World Cup impact. Not only must he score at least six more goals, but Mbappe would also need to win another World Cup and to score a double in the Final, just as his predecessor from Rio de Janeiro managed in 2002.
Mbappe vs Pele
The strong bond of mutual respect between Mbappe and Pele is no secret. France’s main man dreams of replicating the exploits of one of his heroes, but he will need to have a stellar international career if he is to equal O Rei’s haul of three world titles.
The Brazil icon featured little at Chile 1962 due to injury and missed the Final, but he made his talent count in the showpiece games in 1958 and 1970, weighing in with goals on both occasions.
Finding the net in two different Finals puts Pele in an elite club with just three other players, including Zinedine Zidane. The former Santos striker also racked up 12 goals in 14 World Cup games, a figure Mbappe has every chance of overtaking.
However, to match Pele’s other vast achievements, the Bondy native will surely need more than just his own natural talent. He will also require great France players around him – and a little of the same luck that legends always seem to have.
