Erling Haaland has played down his future rivalry with French superstar Kylian Mbappe over who could become football's next Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

‘It’s impossible to say’: Manchester City striker Erling Haaland plays down rivalry with Kylian Mbappe over which superstar could become football’s next Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are regarded as future greats of the game
  • Man City star’s had a stellar start to life in England, scoring 23 goals in 18 games 
  • Meanwhile Mbappe won the Golden Boot in Qatar, netting a hat-trick in the final 
  • The 22-year-old ‘does not like to compare with others and focuses on himself’

Erling Haaland has played down his future rivalry with French superstar Kylian Mbappe over who could become football’s next Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

For more than a decade, the Messi and Ronaldo discussion has been one of the most talked about topics in football – and has even been labelled the ‘GOAT’ debate.

Now, with Messi aged 35 and Ronaldo aged 37, football fans have began to start debating who could replace two greats of the game as they enter the final years of their careers.

Erling Haaland has played down his future rivalry with French superstar Kylian Mbappe over who could become football's next Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Erling Haaland has played down his future rivalry with French superstar Kylian Mbappe over who could become football’s next Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Haaland is flourishing at Man City, while Mbappe has just won the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Qatar

Haaland is flourishing at Man City, while Mbappe has just won the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Qatar

Haaland, 22, has enjoyed a stellar start to life at Manchester City – scoring an extraordinary 23 goals in 18 games for the club. Meanwhile superstar Mbappe has 19 in 20 for the PSG.

The Norwegian star is back in action tonight in Man City’s Carabao Cup last-16 tie with Liverpool, having been desperately waiting for club football to return with his country not competing at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mbappe returns to PSG on the back of winning the Golden Boot in Qatar, including a hat-trick in France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina.

But when confronted over whether Haaland and Mbappe could be the next Ronaldo and Messi, the Norweigian striker told Viaplay: ‘It’s impossible to say.

‘I don’t like to compare myself with others. I think you need to be your own player when it comes to that so I don’t like to compare or anything with that.’ 

Messi and Ronaldo, who have played at the highest level for almost 20 years, have always divided fans over who is the greater football

Messi and Ronaldo, who have played at the highest level for almost 20 years, have always divided fans over who is the greater football

Messi has been hailed as the greatest by fans after winning the World Cup with Argentina

Messi has been hailed as the greatest by fans after winning the World Cup with Argentina

But Haaland is happy for the conversation to be had, and hailed the coverage that the Messi and Ronaldo rivalry has had over the years.

‘I think the media has been doing that with Ronaldo and Messi for the last 10 years and I think they’ve been pushing each other as well,’ he added.

‘I think it’s been a positive thing. Barcelona and Madrid against each other.

‘It’s been the perfect rivalry. But I don’t think about this [rivalry between him and Mbappe], honestly.’

Many footballing fans were quick to denote Messi as the ‘GOAT’ after he succeeded in winning the pinnacle of football last Sunday – something Ronaldo has not achieved for Portugal.

Ronaldo and Messi have 12 Ballon d’Ors between them and have often been praised for the longevity they have shown in their careers.

Only time will tell to see if Haaland and Mbappe can maintain their incredible achievements already to match – or trump – those of Ronaldo and Messi.  

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