Still 21 years old and Kylian Mbappe is now acknowledged as one of the greatest in football, a vision that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had summed up rather forcefully. The young Frenchman, according to Wenger, is the new Pele and the prediction is shaping up to be spot on.
Just this week, Mbappe fired another hat-trick that will count as his seventh. The three-goal effort in a game might not be jaw-dropping anymore nowadays except that the Paris Saint-Germain striker is only 21. The best years of his playing career are still waiting to happen for Mbappe, and to be sure; he will further impress with a flurry of hat-tricks.
So far, the World Cup winner is making Wenger proud, CNN said. Famously, the iconic manager saw the youngster operating on the pitch for the first time, and he had a quick thought. He was witnessing the incarnation of a football legend from Brazil. He was convinced Mbappe is the new Pele.
Already a dominating force in his field, the PSG superstar is showing off his expansive skillset. The hat-trick from Mbappe against Lyon on Wednesday reminded the world that the first time it was accomplished, also against the same foe, will not be the last. And it proved how a juggernaut he can be.
"His performance against Lyon and each of his three goals showcased a different aspect of Mbappe's profile as a footballer and gives insight into why he is already well on his way to be considered an all-time great," the report said.
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel is singing with praises on the dazzling display of football coming from Mbappe. He said: "He plays with a lot of confidence, in a direct way and uses his speed with intelligence."
In 32 appearances so far in the current campaign, Mbappe has already scored 30 goals for the Parisians and complemented with 17 assists. Unless he will be bogged down by an injury, the Frenchman is en route to equal or exceed the numbers he registered for PSG last season.
And it's quite clear that the young man's brilliant performance on the pitch is translating to PSG's benefits. For one, Tuchel said Mbappe works well pairing up with Neymar and two playing at the same time amounts to an explosive tandem.
Neymar alone delivers "extraordinary performances" when deployed out there, said the German head coach, adding that with Mbappe, the duo will be practically unstoppable.
"With Neymar, they're very strong together," said Tuchel, and per Bleacher Report.
"He's very strong, he uses his speed very well, he's very decisive. He's really in good shape," the PSG manager added about Mbappe.
The football world has started on a conversation that paints a gloomy specter when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now in their 30s, both retire. It would seem that Mbappe can fill the void that the two superstars' eventual departure will create. And if he plays in the same level seen with him now, his reign could potentially extend for a decade or two.
