Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are among the best young players in the world, taking over the mantle from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the game
Erling Haaland is at the very top of his game
Erling Haaland has admitted that he doesn’t see Kylian Mbappe as a rival, despite the two young stars stepping into the shoes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Haaland, 23, and Mbappe, 24, are among the players on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or award, which does not include Ronaldo for the first time in 20 years. The 38-year-old is now in the final stages of his career, playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and players like Haaland and Mbappe have taken over his mantle as the most exciting players in the world.
Messi, 36, is a few years younger than his long-term rival but is also in his twilight years, playing for Inter Miami in the MLS. Nevertheless, Messi is the heavy favourite to win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time, having starred in Argentina’s World Cup win in December.
In an interview with France Football, Haaland was asked whether he felt him vs Mbappe would become the next big rivalry in world football, to take over from Messi vs Ronaldo.
“That’s what everyone thinks, but you have to emphasise just how crazy the things Messi and Cristiano have done,” he replied. “You also have to remember that they’re still doing it, even if they’re getting older. They’re still fantastic players.
“But I never talk about myself being against other players, it’s not my way of seeing things. I focus on myself, I only try to be better every day, to continue enjoying what I do and being the best version of myself.”
Kylian Mbappe will try to win the Champions League for PSG this season (
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Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
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While he might not win the Ballon d’Or in Paris on October 30, Haaland has already claimed plenty of personal accolades for his exceptional 2022/23 season. Haaland was named the PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year over the summer.
Those trophies came after he scored 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions for City and broke the Premier League single-season scoring record with 36 in 35 games. Those goals helped City win an historic Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
By contrast, although Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain won the Ligue 1 title, they once again fell short in the Champions League. That disappointment sparked a major change of approach for PSG, with Messi and Neymar jettisoned, with new manager Luis Enrique taking a new approach, based on youth.
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Despite the new approach, Enrique’s success or failure in the role will ultimately be judged on whether he can bring home the elusive Champions League trophy that has evaded the club for so long. PSG have been drawn in Group F alongside Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle.
Mbappe could face Haaland later in the competition, with City facing RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Red Star in Group G. The Champions League begins on September 19.
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