A generational rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi concluded after the pair left Europe and we were left with a new pair of soccer’s upcoming legends in Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
There are arguments among fans of the game about who is better between the two. Just like there were Messi fans and Ronaldo fans, there are now Mbappe fans and Haaland fans. Obviously, it isn’t the same vigor and relentlessness among the fans, and neither are the players at that level. But, these fans are present. However, are Mbappe and Haaland as closely matched as Messi and Ronaldo were once? Seemingly not.
There are many differences in the type of players Haaland and Mbappe are. They are not as similar as Messi and Ronaldo were early on in their careers. The Manchester City striker and the Paris Saint-Germain forward are two extraordinary players vying for all the accolades in the soccer world. But when it comes to who is the better soccer player, overall, here are five reasons why Mbappe trumps Haaland.
1. Kylian Mbappe has more to offer in his game than Erling Haaland
The first and foremost argument has to be the completeness as a soccer player that Mbappe possesses and Haaland lacks. The Frenchman is more useful than the Norwegian all over the soccer pitch. In front of goal, presently, maybe there is no one better than Erling Haaland. But Mbappe has the ability to be the man in front of the goal as well as provide for that man.
Mbappe usually plies his trade from the wings. On the other hand, Haaland is an out-and-out striker. The Norwegian is always that man in front of goal. He has very rarely taken up the role of the maker.
🚨‼️Thierry Henry on Mbappé vs Erling Haaland:
“Kylian Mbappé is a better player than Erling Haaland. Mbappé can create & finish. Haaland is just a finisher. Mbappé can play in any position up-front. Haaland can only play in the middle.”🤯 pic.twitter.com/FtdXPijlk6
— 𝐊𝐌𝐓. (@KM_Timeline) March 9, 2024
One would argue that he does not need to as he has payers like Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden around him. However, that hasn’t stopped several other #9s from showing up further behind and helping the team. Take, for example, Harry Kane or Wayne Rooney. The English strikers could slot in at #10 whenever needed. Haaland can not be imagined doing that.
For Mbappe, he can do the work all around the field. He has a decent defensive work rate and he toys with defenders at will. He beats Haaland when it comes to dribbling past strong defenders, he beats Haaland when it comes to assisting your teammates. Haaland and Mbappe are well-matched when it comes to scoring goals. Overall, Mbappe is a much more complete soccer player than Haaland.
2. Big game performances
After Kylian Mbappe’s 2022 FIFA World Cup performance, you can probably say he is the best big game player ever not just better than Haaland. Mbappe came in clutch and scored a hat-trick in the final for France when players like Olivier Giroud and Antonie Greizmann flopped. He stamped his name as a soccer great that day, without a doubt.
Kylian Mbappe has struggled when it came to Champions League soccer. He has not been able to perform in many of the big games there. However, his World Cup heroics have to be able to cover it, come on.
The most-watched sporting event in the world. The highest of the highest stakes. A whole nation’s hope literally rested on his shoulders and he delivered massively. Also, take into account the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Mbappe scored a goal in the final as a teenager.
For Haaland, however, chances have been few. He has not received too many big games to show up. But, the ones that he has received, he has choked in. He scored no goals in City’s three semi-finals (one FA Cup, two UCL) and two finals in the year they won the treble. He did break the EPL goalscoring record over 38 matches. There is no doubt about Haaland’s goalscoring prowess. However, Mbappe edges him when it comes to performing in the big games.
3. Consistency
One of the arguable points, this one, but I believe Mbappe has shown much more consistency in his performances than Haaland. Of course, there is the argument that he plays for PSG in Ligue 1. But, many top players came to PSG in Ligue 1 and did not show any consistency.
Kylian Mbappe, on the other hand, has been consistently good. He has put up world-class performances regularly, got on the scoresheet regularly, and assisted regularly too. However, looking at him without the goals and assists stats as well, Mbappe has always shown up performance-wise. His ability to provide to the team without goals and assists is what makes him different from Haaland.
The Norwegian’s contribution is goals, goals, and goals. Without a doubt, he has been magnificent with it. But, on days when he is not scoring, he is not really helping the team much. This creates an inconsistency in his performances.
4. Leadership qualities
Mbappe possesses proven leadership qualities. He is the club captain at PSG. He also captained the French national team. Again, in that storied World Cup final, he led his team to a point where they had a chance. From the dead, France had a chance because Kylian Mbappe led them there.
After the final, a video of him surfaced on social media. Mbappe gave an inspiring speech to teammates who were much older than him. Then he went out and did the job himself.
That has not happened with Haaland. At least, until now, Haaland has shown no leadership qualities because maybe he has not been given the opportunity. Even in Norway, Martin Odegaard captains the nation and not Haaland. It makes you wonder if he possesses the leadership qualities that Kylian Mbappe has. Most certainly, greats like Ronaldo and Messi had it.
5. National team success
The most arguable point. You’d wonder how national team success determines how good a player Haaland is. Well, we know the Ballon d’Or determines how good a player is. Tell me, honestly, if Messi did not win the World Cup, would he win the Ballon d’Or? In a year where Haaland broke records and won the treble, Messi takes home the Ballon d’Or because? World Cup success, national team success.
Kylian Mbappe already has it. FIFA World Cup winner, UEFA Nations League winner, and FIFA World Cup final hat-trick, at 25 Mbappe already has the national team success that Haaland might never have. When their stories are told going ahead in the future, there will be a lot of talk about Mbappe’s success with France but Haaland’s Norway not making it to international tournaments will definitely put him at a disadvantage.