Kylian Mbappé, captain of the France national team, on the eve of his team’s match against Iraq and his approaching 100th international appearance, named Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest players in football history, while stating that he still has a long way to go to firmly establish his own place in World Cup history.
Mbappé, who scored twice in France’s 3–1 victory over Senegal, has now reached 14 goals in World Cup competition. He is currently just two goals away from Lionel Messi’s 16-goal record. Messi, meanwhile, equaled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record after recording a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria.
Speaking about his rivalry with the Argentine captain, the Real Madrid star said: “I knew Leo would score because he always scores. Now he is ahead of me and I am chasing him.”
In response to a question comparing himself with Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, Mbappé stated: “Messi is the best. He, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, stands at the very top of football. These two players have proven their exceptional quality and ability over the years.”
The 27-year-old France forward emphasized that he is still aiming to shine further on football’s biggest stage, saying: “Two goals are not enough to demonstrate my ability at the World Cup. I want to score more goals and help my team reach the championship.”
He also addressed the possibility of facing Erling Haaland in the later stages of the tournament, stating that his full focus is on the upcoming match against Iraq and that he is not thinking about potential future opponents.
Mbappé, who won the 2018 World Cup, described reaching 100 international appearances as a special milestone and added: “There is no greater honor than playing for the national team. This match is very important to me, but the main goal is to win and secure qualification to the next stage.”
Writer:Salima Aryaei
