How does Mbappé compare to Messi, Raúl and Ronaldo at 18?
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
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At 18 years and 120 days old, Monaco's Kylian Mbappé has already scored five UEFA Champions League goals and set a competition record; UEFA.com charts his stunning progress so far.
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Monaco's striking sensation Kylian Mbappé has taken the UEFA Champions League by storm this season – his first in the competition.
The Frenchman was 18 years and 120 days old on Wednesday when he notched his fifth UEFA Champions League goal, just three minutes into a potentially tricky quarter-final second leg against Dortmund. It made him the first player to score in his first four knockout games in the competition, Mbappé having registered twice in the away leg against the German team and in each of Monaco's last-16 matches against Manchester City.
Five goals in four successive games before your 19th birthday: not bad at all. Indeed, the only player to have scored more before turning 19 was Raúl González. The former Real Madrid forward had hit three by the time he was Mbappé's age, having bagged a hat-trick against Ferencváros on just his third appearance in the competition. He then netted three more in the course of his next four UEFA Champions League games.
- Who are the youngest French scorers in the Champions League?
- Mbappé as a UEFA.com weekly wonderkid aged 17
Mbappé could equal Raúl's record in the semi-finals. If he doesn't manage to score in May, he has time on his side; he is not 19 until 20 December, which is after matchday six of next season's group stage.
Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, at the same age, had accomplished relatively little, What more can we expect from this young man?
At the same age ...
Lionel Messi (18 years and 120 days on 22/10/05) had made four UEFA Champions League outings but had not scored. His first goal came on 2 November 2005 against Panathinaikos at Camp Nou.
Cristiano Ronaldo (18 years and 120 days on 05/06/03) was on UEFA European Under-21 Championship duty with Portugal at the time. He had made one UEFA Champions League substitute appearance and two outings in the UEFA Cup (including one start) for Sporting. His first UEFA Champions League (group stage to final) goal arrived as late as April 2007.
Raúl González (18 years and 120 days on 25/10/95) had made three UEFA Champions League appearances, claiming his first three European goals against Ferencváros on 18 October 1995.
They say
"My word, he is good. Ooh la la. I met him, and he gave me the impression he has a good head on his shoulders. l really like watching him play. He thinks. Yes, he's quick, but he's thinking and that is the sign of a kid who can go a long way in the game."
Thierry Henry, former France striker
"Kylian started to play with us four, five months ago, and we're still supporting him, because he's still an 18-year-old kid. But he's quite mature. I've watched him talk to the media. He's very calm, he understands very well what he needs to do."
Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach
"Mbappé is not exactly the same as Thierry Henry, but it's true he has similar qualities. The talent is similar. After that, does he have the same level of motivation, desire and intelligence that Thierry had? The next two years will tell us that, but the first signs are very promising."
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
"He is being talked about everywhere, even in England. He shows great maturity for his age. What he has done at Monaco is quite impressive. It's a good sign for the future. If he keeps working for the team, he has all the qualities to make a great player."
Hugo Lloris, France goalkeeper
Mbappé's UEFA Champions League record
Played: 7 (356 minutes)
Goals: 5 (average of a goal every 71.2 minutes)
Yellow and red cards: none
Mbappé's goals so far?
1) 21/02/2017 V Man City (A)
2) 15/03/17 v Man City (H)
3) 12/04/17 v Dortmund (A)
4) 12/04/17 v Dortmund (A)
5) 19/4/17 v Dortmund (H)