Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are set to be major figures for more than a decade and the Manchester City star admits he would love to team up with the France star.
Erling Haaland did not hold back as he offered gushing praise of rival Kylian Mbappe – even joking he wishes he could play alongside him for Norway.
The two forwards are seen as the next two generation talents – and could yet dominate in the way Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have done. Both players burst onto the scene as teenagers and have enjoyed huge individual success, both excelling on the Champions League stage.
Haaland and Mbappe have differing styles, but have both scored huge amount of goals. The Frenchman has been able to showcase his quality on the international stage, already making two World Cup finals, whereas Haaland’s Norway side are not as competitive.
Asked about Mbappe, Haaland was quick to shower his rival with praise as he lauded the PSG star. He told RMC: “There are so many good players and Kylian is one of them. He is so strong! The French are so lucky that he plays for France. I would like him to play for Norway obviously, but it’s not the case. But yes, he’s an incredible player.”
Haaland also added: “He’s so fast, so strong and he’s been doing it for so many years. What is he? Two years older than me? It’s crazy! Sometimes you have to tell yourself that he still has ten years of playing at the top level. He is phenomenal.”
Mbappe has scored 27 times for PSG this term, but it was his performances for Les Blues at the World Cup which truly highlighted his brilliance. He almost hauled his country to the trophy with a hat-trick, having been quiet for much of the game, becoming just the second man to bag a treble in the final.
Debate surrounding Mbappe and Haaland continues, but Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves both admitted that the Frenchman is able to do things on an individual level that are unmatched.
Ferdinand said on BT Sport: “They’re two obviously great players. But Haaland needs a team to create him goals. Mbappe does as well but he can also go and create goals on his own and take the game by the scruff of the neck. I’m taking Mbappe.”
Hargreaves then added: “I’m taking Mbappe, everybody is. Haaland is a brilliant finisher but Mbappe can do things on his own, like he did in the World Cup final.”
Haaland is on course to smash the Premier League records for goals in a season, currently held by Alan Shearer, who has nothing but praise for the Manchester City man.
“I’ll be the first to shake his hand,” he said. “It’s going to go. I really enjoy his attitude. I love his hunger and his desire. I loved what he was saying about not sleeping at night when he doesn’t score goals because that’s what a goal scorer is. I love everything about him and as I said beforehand, if you’re building for me the perfect centre-forward, he is it. And I think he’s almost perfect.”