Argentina’s Lionel Messi kisses the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Claude Makelele is hopeful that French sensation Kylian Mbappe will surpass soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo one day as he eyes up the World Cup Golden Boot.
Messi and Argentina are eyeing back-to-back World Cups later today, as they face Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium after they beat both England and France respectively in the semi-finals.
For Mbappe, the World Cup ended in huge disappointment after France went out with a whimper against Spain before losing 6-4 to England in the third-place play-off.
Kylian Mbappe vs Lionel Messi
However, Mbappe is currently leading the Golden Boot race with a sensational tally of 10 goals, while Messi is second with eight goals ahead of the final later. And Makelele, who finished as a runner-up with France at the 2006 World Cup had some special praise for his compatriot.
Makelele, speaking on behalf of ComeOn, said: “Whether or not Mbappe wins the Golden Boot again this year, he is already one of the best player of all-time for me, especially at his age.
“Competing with Messi and Ronaldo… it’s a different style, but they still remain two huge legends of world football. Messi and Ronaldo were an example for Mbappe. So I think in his goal, the student always wants to surpass the master. He’s on that path to do something exceptional in this world of football. He’s an exceptional kid with deadly quality.
“So I think he will be among the greatest of the great. But in the end, I think and I hope that he will surpass Messi and Ronaldo.”
Mbappe went ahead of his own in the Golden Boot race after scoring a brace for France against England yesterday.
England cruised into a 4-0 lead at the break before France threatened a comeback with Mbappe scoring in the 48th and 66th minute – but Thomas Tuchel’s side clung on to take third place at the World Cup.
