Kylian Mbappe has seen his mentality compared to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Real Madrid star told he is “always thinking about himself”.
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- Became a 'Galactico' in 2024
- Following in Ronaldo's footsteps
- Missing out on biggest honours
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WHAT HAPPENED?
World Cup winner Mbappe became another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024. A move to Spain from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-German saw him follow in the footsteps of Real’s all-time leading goalscorer Ronaldo.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Mbappe has inherited the No.9 shirt that CR7 once wore in Madrid, while also being moved into a central striking berth. His reputation as one of the most fearsome forwards on the planet was, however, forged while operating on the left flank for club and country.
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WHAT JORGE SAMPAOLI SAID
Former Ligue 1 rival Jorge Sampaoli, who has spent time in France coaching at Marseille and Rennes, has told of why Mbappe cannot be likened to Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi: “We were talking about Lamine [Yamal], who can be compared to Messi because he has individualism and also a connection with otherness.
“Mbappe struggles a little more. I compare him more to Cristiano, a player who is always thinking about himself and the goal. And in Paris, he was decisive on the left, as a winger in the number 9.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Sampaoli added on why Mbappe has found the going tough at times, with a Brazilian colleague in Madrid filling his favoured attacking role: “Vinicius is at Madrid. He [Mbappe] really looks very uncomfortable, very withdrawn. He doesn't know how to attack in that position. In any case, he has scored important goals. But he is not the player I saw in France or at the World Cup in Qatar either.”
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