Kylian Mbappe: Arsenal legend reckons PSG forward is a ‘phenomenon’, Rio Ferdinand says he’s the closest thing to Ronaldo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic loves him
Kylian Mbappe is unquestionably one of the most talented young footballers of his generation.
The Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon is still only 21, but has already won the World Cup with France, three Ligue 1 titles and has over 100 professional goals to his name.
Mbappe joined PSG in a £162million deal from Monaco in 2018
Alan Brazil names his top five players in world football right now
It has been quite the rise to stardom for Mbappe, but there is plenty more to come from the teenage sensation who looks destined to win the Ballon d’Or one day.
The forward will get the opportunity to showcase his talents to the world once more when he lines up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Sunday night – a game which is LIVE on talkSPORT.
Below, talkSPORT.com has taken a look at what some of the biggest names in the game, both past and present, have said about the PSG superstar…
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF MBAPPE’S STUNNING CAREER SO FAR
HONOURS:
France
– World Cup winner (2018)
– European Under-19 Championship winner (2016)
Monaco
– Ligue 1 winner (2016/17)
Paris Saint-Germain
– Ligue 1 winner (2017/18, 2018/19)
– French Cup winner (2017/18)
– League Cup winner (2017/18)
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
– European Under-19 Championship team of the tournament (2016)
– Champions League Squad of the Season (2016/17)
– World Cup Best Young Player Award, Dream Team (2018)
– French Player of the Year (2018)
– Ligue 1 top scorer (2018/19)
RECORDS:
– Youngest player to reach 10 Champions League goals (18 years 350 days)
– The second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If this guy says you’re ‘fantastic’ then you just must be a little bit special.
“Mbappe is fantastic. He’s young, he’s won nice trophies so far and he’s developing,” the legendary forward said.
“He is doing a good job and he’ll continue to do the job.
“He just has to keep his focus, even if the hype is around him and all things happening.
“Just keep focused, train hard and he’ll do even better.”
The former PSG man knows a good striker when he sees one
Thomas Tuchel
The PSG head coach is under no illusions as to just how ‘special’ Mbappe is.
“He shows his quality every day in training, he has this hunger to score, score, score. It’s his quality.
”He is a special player,” the German said last year.
Kylian Mbappe in touchline row with PSG boss Thomas Tuchel as Liverpool transfer rumours persist
Thiago Silva
Another man who knows Mbappe very well is PSG skipper Silva.
The 35-year-old has been there and done it during his illustrious career, and believes the youngster is already at an ‘incredible’ level despite his tender age.
“He is well present, he is ready, he has gifts, I can’t tell you more because he is an incredible player.
“I’m very happy for him, especially for Kylian; this player is magnificent.”
The veteran defender believes Mbappe is an ‘incredible player’
Cesc Fabregas
The former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder has nothing but good words to say having come face-to-face with the him during his spell at current side Monaco.
“He’s a phenomenon. He’s clearly going to be the best player in the world in the future.
“I always think like a midfielder, and if I had him in front of me I’d be giving him assists all the time because he’s so fast, explosive, but he’s also very clever in slipping his markers.
“He has his timing down perfectly. [Thierry] Henry and Diego Costa were also brilliant at that.
“The thing that stands out about Mbappe is that he’s so hungry. He knows how to exploit his ability.”
Fabregas is a huge admirer of Mbappe’s talents
Rio Ferdinand
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says the Ronaldo-esque forward gives him ‘goosebumps’.
“He’s the nearest thing we’ve seen to [Brazilian] Ronaldo. In terms of impact on the world scene as a teenager, Michael Owen is on a level,” the former England defender told BT Sport.
“He makes you feel like a kid again watching football. He makes you get goosebumps before he’s even kicked a ball.”
Ferdinand came up against some world class strikers during his time at Old Trafford
Gary Neville
Speaking after Mbappe notched a double for France in a 4-3 victory against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, the former Red Devils defender said: “We all know where we think he’s going to be in three, four, five years’ time and if we look back and he’s achieved that, it’ll be a day like today that we’ll all remember as a defining moment.
“He’s on the pitch with Lionel Messi, in a huge game, and he’s grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck,” he explained. “You think about someone going from a good player to a great player; they win the biggest matches.
“You think about Cristiano Ronaldo what he did in that first game against Spain. What Mbappe did today was absolutely wonderful. His confidence will be absolutely soaring.”
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Louis Saha
Another ex-Red Devils man, Louis Saha, says it is only a matter of time before Mbappe wins the most prestigious individual prize in world football.
“Kylian Mbappe is guaranteed to win the Ballon d’Or and it is only a matter of time until he is officially the best player in the world,” Saha recently said on the Football Index Podcast.
“He’s just returned from injury and he is destroying teams in the latter stages of the Champions League at will with the quality of his runs and his movement.
“To be doing this at his age, I am speechless. For me, Mbappe is already definitely in the top three players in the world right now.
“There is obviously a massive difference between him and Messi and Ronaldo, but this is because they have done it for 10 years.
“I do think that when Messi and Ronaldo end their careers, Mbappe will be their successor who dominates.”
Saha has tipped Mbappe to win the Ballon d’Or in the not too distant future
No comments:
Post a Comment