It is a World Cup where the big stars have shone so far. On Friday night, two of those big hitters are set to do battle in the first ‘clash of the titans’ meeting.
While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo make their final bow at this tournament, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have proven they are the outstanding goalscorers of their generation.
This is the new Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry. And it is on full view at the World Cup for the first time.
Norway and France meet in the Group I finale with both nations having already qualified for the knockout stages. There might be temptation to rest both key men for later battles, after both scored doubles in their opening two group games.
But with the Golden Boot race very much alive, do you dare bench the goal-hungry stars? Surely not…
Haaland and Mbappe are the only players in Europe currently aged 30 or under with at least 250 career goals to their name – and they are in a league of their own at the top.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are the two outstanding goal threats in world football
This rivalry does not yet have the same bite that Messi and Ronaldo’s did when they were at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Mbappe and Haaland playing in separate leagues has something to do with that.
But they are still neck-and-neck at the top of the modern game: both have one European Golden Shoe each; Mbappe has more league titles; Haaland has won more separate competitions, in more countries.
Mbappe has the World Cup, but Haaland has the Champions League, which his French rival has never won.
Speaking of the Champions League, the rivals are doing battle with each other in the goalscoring charts there, too.
Mbappe has more goals so far but in fairness to Haaland, the France forward started earlier. When Mbappe broke through with Monaco and then PSG, the Norway forward was still playing in his home country at Molde.
But that doesn’t mean Haaland is inferior to Mbappe. In fact, Haaland has the best goals-per-game record in the tournament’s history.
On top of that, Mbappe has the long-term international standing. His double against Iraq took him to 16 goals in 16 World Cup matches, levelling Miroslav Klose’s all-time record (now held by Messi).
But Haaland showed his hand with four goals in the tournament so far – becoming the second player this century to manage multiple strikes in his first two World Cup appearances, after Harry Kane.
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Erling Haaland praises his scoring ability and says he is proud of ‘making history’ with Norway after the Scandinavians won their 12th straight game against Senegal.
Should Haaland continue his goalscoring rate of two goals per game and play in every match, he will reach 16 goals – which was Klose’s World Cup record – in this year’s final. Unlikely, yes, but not impossible.
Haaland’s sample size is simply smaller – but what is clear is these two players will surely see scoring records tumble before them.
Mbappe will surely – inevitably – claim the World Cup goalscoring record from Messi in the long run. He may even manage it this summer.
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On The Rest is Football, Gary Lineker, Joe Cole and Harry Maguire discuss whether we are about to witness another World Cup dominated by the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
But you cannot rule out Haaland getting to that level one day, especially if Norway reach the next three expanded World Cups by the time he turns 37.
His international record is phenomenal: 59 goals for Norway is one goal behind Mbappe’s France tally of 60 – despite Haaland playing 48 fewer international matches.
That Champions League scoring record of 140 set by Ronaldo is under threat, too. Mbappe is already halfway to that tally before the age of 28, while Haaland is 13 goals behind the Frenchman despite being just two years younger.
Another comparison between the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry and Mbappe vs Haaland is how the two players in the individual battle are stylistically different.
Mbappe and Haaland will be rivals for some time
Messi’s left-footed, technically outstanding profile matched up well with Ronaldo’s right-footed, physical nature.
Mbappe is the pacey, all-action forward who takes players on while appearing and scoring from anywhere on the pitch – witness long-range goals against Senegal and Iraq. Haaland, meanwhile, is the clinical first-time finisher from inside the box who uses his physical presence more.
Which player is better? Like Messi and Ronaldo, the right answer is surely to enjoy them both while they are still here – and before the next two players come along.
