A Generational Run
Kylian Mbappé has the chance to cement himself as the greatest player in World Cup history this summer, backed by a loaded France squad that boasts arguably the best team on paper in this summer’s tournament.
Mbappé is a superstar forward. For the better part of a decade, he’s been putting up numbers at a generational level. In the past two seasons alone, despite a slow start to his Real Madrid career while also missing games this season due to knee problems, the Frenchman has posted 85 goals. This season, Mbappé has fired off 2.18 shots on target per match, which puts him in second across Europe, only behind Harry Kane.
Versatile and Lethal
Mbappé generates goals out of nothing. He is an elite dribbler, and, unlike a traditional striker, likes to operate in deeper zones outside of the 18-yard box. Mbappé often drifts into the left half-space where he can link up with teammates, shoot outside the box or play the ball out wide before getting in position to receive a cut-back.
Mbappé’s strengths can also turn into his weaknesses. For example, Real Madrid have often needed a target in the box, and Mbappé doesn’t provide that. That problem is further compounded with Vinicius Junior on the field, as the Brazilian likes to operate in similar zones.
In the past, at the national team level, Mbappé had Olivier Giroud as that player who can play in the box, and the two benefited from each other’s presence. In the qualifiers leading up to this World Cup, Mbappé sometimes had Hugo Ekitike or Christopher Nkunku playing that role, although the former will miss the entirety of the World Cup due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Ousmane Dembele can make those runs in a fluid French attack which enables Mbappé, Dembele and Michael Olise to get into goalscoring positions almost at will.
Chasing History
Mbappé already, unquestionably, has one of the best resumes in World Cup history. Only five players—Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo Nazario, Gerd Muller, Just Fontaine and Lionel Messi—have scored more goals in this tournament. With one more goal, Mbappé will surpass Pele. He has a real chance of becoming the highest scorer in World Cup history by the end of this summer. Mbappé only needs four more goals to catch Klose at the top, and given that the Frenchman takes France’s penalties and will likely go far in the tournament, it’s a realistic bet.
France at the World Cup
Mbappé already has one World Cup trophy under his belt (2018) as well as a runners-up medal (2022), in which he put in one of the greatest performances in World Cup final history in the loss to Argentina.
If France wins the tournament and Mbappé is the top scorer, we will be looking at a historic moment in which Mbappé becomes the greatest player in World Cup history.
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France vs Senegal — June 16 — 3 p.m. ET from East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
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France vs Iraq — June 22 — 5 p.m. ET from Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
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France vs Norway — June 26 — 3 p.m. ET from Foxborough, MA (Gillette Stadium)
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