Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland look set to take over the mantle of greatness from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with their electrifying displays and goal records for both club and country.
The question of who is better between Messi and Ronaldo has been the hottest topic for almost two decades, with the debate continuing to divide opinions among football fans.
With the GOAT debate still unsettled, Mbappe and Haaland have risen to the occasion and they have emerged as replacement debates.
The duo have already established themselves as shining stars among a crop of young players.
Afrosport takes you through the underlying numbers behind their stellar performances.
Who has better statistics between the French sprint forward and the Norwegian goal machine since the start of the 2015-16 season.
Kylian Mbappe vs Erling Haaland: Club goals
| Kylian Mbappe | Seasons | Erling Haaland |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2015/16 | 0 |
| 26 | 2016/17 | 4 |
| 21 | 2017/18 | 12 |
| 39 | 2018/19 | 5 |
| 30 | 2019/20 | 44 |
| 42 | 2020/21 | 41 |
| 46 | 2021/22 | 30 |
|
8 |
2022/23 |
14 |
| 217 | Total | 149 |
The two stars commenced their professional careers during the 2015/16 season.
Mbappe enjoyed his highest-scoring season in the 2021/22 campaign, with a tally of 46 goals for PSG while Haaland achieved his scoring landmark in the 2019/20 season, with 44 goals for Borussia Dortmund.
Kylian Mbappe vs Erling Haaland: Club assists
| Kylian Mbappe | Seasons | Erling Haaland |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2015/16 | 0 |
| 14 | 2016/17 | 1 |
| 15 | 2017/18 | 4 |
| 17 | 2018/19 | 1 |
| 18 | 2019/20 | 10 |
| 11 | 2020/21 | 12 |
| 26 | 2021/22 | 8 |
|
0 |
2022/23 |
3 |
| 104 | Total | 40 |
Mbappe has proven to be a provider, not just a finisher, in front of goal. He has a clear edge over his Norwegian rival in the number of assists provided in club football, after registering 59 more assists more than Haaland so far.
Kylian Mbappe vs Erling Haaland: International goals and assists
| Player | Goals | Assists | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | 28 | 21 | 59 |
| Erling Haaland | 21 | 3 | 23 |
Mbappe made his international debut for France in 2017 and he has made 57 appearances so far, scoring 28 goals with 21 assists.
Haaland, on his part, has registered 21 goals and three assists in 23 international matches since he made his Lions’ debut in 2019.
Despite the close contest in records and unending debate among football enthusiasts, both players are not putting the brakes on anytime soon and the competition to be the best will only get better.
With the 2022-23 season underway, Haaland and Mbappe are making commanding statements with stunning form for their respective clubs.
