Soccer
Forget Lionel Messi: Kylian Mbappe will go down as greatest player in World Cup history
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This World Cup will be remembered as the one when the globe's biggest stars stepped up to the mantle.
Besides Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal (for now), there has been an immense tussle between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane for the spotlight.
Messi has wowed for Argentina despite his supposed 'declining years', rescuing the champions while breaking records at every juncture.
However, whenever the mini maestro has produced something special, Real Madrid's megastar has responded emphatically, and at this rate the Frenchman will overtake him as the greatest player in World Cup history.
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Lionel Messi has set the World Cup bar
Four years ago, Mbappe and Messi grappled in a World Cup final for the ages, and despite the former bagging a hat-trick (one more goal than his rival), it was the Argentine who was the face of the tournament, receiving the Golden Ball as he lifted the trophy that had long alluded him.
Ironically, if France had tasted victory in the greatest final the tournament has ever witnessed, then it would have been their forward handed the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball.
What Messi has done, though, is produce longevity, appearing in a record six World Cups, amassing 31 appearances and, of course, becoming the tournament's highest scorer with 21 goals.
Not only that, but the 39-year-old has scored in eight consecutive World Cup matches, stretching back to the Qatar Round of 16.
However, what makes his achievement that much better is that he has done all this in a team that is not laced with superstars.
Yes, Argentina evidently have a strong squad, but it is not packed with world-class players like the French team, and if Messi were not in it, then they would not have lifted that trophy four years ago.
Of course, the little magician still has time to break even more records, but he does not have as much time as Mbappe.
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Why Kylian Mbappe will overtake Messi as World Cup's icon
We will be talking about Messi for the rest of our lives, and understandably so, but when we look back at the record books, it will be Mbappe who tops the lists.
The 27-year-old showed he was human against Morocco, missing his first-ever World Cup penalty after a stuttered run-up, but if anything, that spurred him on to score yet another sublime goal.
Sitting just one behind the Argentine in the list of all-time scorers is the Parisian, and not only could he overtake his rival at this tournament, but he threatens to far surpass him in his career.
Mbappe has already appeared in three World Cups, lifting the trophy on debut aged 19, where he was also named Young Player of the Tournament.
Having pipped Messi to the Golden Boot in Qatar, the pair are locked in an intense battle to claim it this year, and everything will rest on who progresses furthest.
The key factor that the Frenchman has over his rival is time; if he remains fit, then he should have at least two more World Cups ahead of him in a team that is threatening to dominate the game.
At 39, the Inter Miami ace may be tempted to appear in one last tournament, especially with the immediate threat of his former teammate stealing his accolades, but he would just be delaying the inevitable.
Yes, Mbappe may never play the beautiful game in a way that Messi has, but when he hangs up his boots, he will be the one boasting all the records.
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