Mbappe vs Lionel Messi : As the eagerly anticipated Qatar World Cup final between France and Argentina approaches, the spotlight is firmly fixed on the two star players of these teams: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. These footballing titans, who started their careers at different times, now find themselves at the pinnacle of the sport, commanding admiration and attention from fans around the world. While they represent different generations of football excellence, Kylian Mbappe’s remarkable performances have propelled him into conversations with the legendary Lionel Messi. Despite their age difference, the statistics of these two players at the age of 23 are truly impressive.
Mbappe vs Lionel Messi
Born in 1998, the French sensation Kylian Mbappe burst onto the football scene at the tender age of 17 in 2015. Following his debut in Ligue 1, playing for PSG, Mbappe has been on an unstoppable trajectory. At just 23 years old, Mbappe boasts an impressive 302 career appearances for his country, a remarkable feat considering his youth.
In these 302 matches, Mbappe has notched an astounding 222 goals. However, his contributions go beyond goal-scoring, as he has also registered 111 assists. When we turn our attention to international matches, taking into account his participation in the ongoing World Cup, Mbappe has already scored 33 goals in 63 matches for his country, all by the age of 23.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Lionel Messi, who was born in 1987. At the age of 17, just like Mbappe, Messi made his first appearance in 2004. Over the next six years, Messi set numerous records and showcased his unparalleled footballing abilities. However, when it comes to pure numbers, Messi’s early career statistics do not quite match up to Mbappe’s achievements.
By the time Messi turned 23, he had played 269 matches and scored 108 goals. While these numbers are certainly impressive, they fall short of Mbappe’s prolific output at the same age. Nevertheless, Messi’s incredible footballing talent was already evident, as evidenced by his two Ballon d’Or wins by the age of 23. In contrast, Mbappe, despite his outstanding performances, has yet to claim this coveted individual accolade at the age of 23.
In the realm of international football, Mbappe has also outperformed Messi at the age of 23. Messi had scored only 17 goals in 57 appearances for the Argentine national team at that age, which lags behind Mbappe’s international goal-scoring record. Moreover, even at the age of 35, Messi continues to chase the elusive World Cup trophy. In contrast, Mbappe secured World Cup glory for France in 2018 when he was just 20 years old. Now, as he competes in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mbappe has the opportunity to claim his second World Cup title.
While Lionel Messi boasts an impressive array of personal achievements, including a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and Golden Boots, his team accomplishments have been relatively modest. His 2021 Copa America victory with Argentina stands out as a significant triumph. Therefore, if Messi triumphs over Mbappe in the World Cup final in Qatar, he will undoubtedly solidify his status as one of football’s all-time legends, joining the ranks of Pele and Maradona.
Conversely, if France emerges victorious against Argentina in the current World Cup final, Kylian Mbappe will have two World Cup titles to his name at the age of 23. Such an achievement would further cement his place among the pantheon of footballing greats. As the world eagerly anticipates this epic showdown, the comparisons between these two incredible talents continue to captivate football enthusiasts worldwide.
