A reporter asked Mbappe to compare himself with Messi, Haaland, and Kane. Mbappe answered by naming Messi first and elevating Ronaldo to the same tier even though Ronaldo was not part of the original list.
The best among Kane, Haaland, Messi, and me? 4 players? Lionel Messi! It's clear. He's the best. The best in the world with Cristiano [Ronaldo]. It's clear.
Mbappe kept the focus off his own resume and framed the wider debate as one for supporters to carry.
Me? I try to do what I can do. I show my quality on the biggest stage, helping my team to win another World Cup. For the rest, it's a debate for the people, debate for the fans,
Messi was the only name Mbappe pulled directly from the list he was given, but pairing Ronaldo with him sent a clear message about who he sees at the very top. The answer was not presented as a slight toward Haaland or Kane, both of whom remain elite forwards in the current era.
