Comparing Kylian Mbappe’s record now to Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 25
Kylian Mbappe has only just turned 25 and it’s fascinating to see how his stats currently stack up against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age.
The PSG superstar is considered by many as the best player in the world right now and it’s easy to see why. His goalscoring numbers automatically place him into the elite category, but Mbappe brings much more to the table than just statistics.
Capable of playing on either flank or through the middle, there’s not much that the Frenchman can’t do. From scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final to regularly leaving defenders for dead with his blistering pace, the 25-year-old is truly one of a kind.
The term generational talent is thrown around quite loosely these days, but Mbappe definitely fits the description. While the likes of Messi and Ronaldo each dominated their era of football, Mbappe has all the tools the do the same himself.
That’s not to say that Mbappe will ever eclipse either Messi or Ronaldo, but the stats would certainly suggest there’s not much between them.
At the age of 25, Mbappe has more goals and assists than both Messi and Ronaldo did at the same age.
Of course, these numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt as it’s tough to compare the competition in Ligue 1 with La Liga and the Premier League, but it’s an interesting comparison nonetheless.
The Frenchman also boasts a superior minutes-per-goal ratio and he’s managed to get his hands on some international silverware. In the case of Messi and Ronaldo, they had to wait until their later years to enjoy some success on the international stage.
Arguably the two biggest prizes which have alluded Mbappe so far are the Champions League and Ballon d’Or. For comparison, by the age of 25 Messi already had three Ballon d’Or awards and three Champions League winners medals to his name.
Still, there’s plenty of time left for Mbappe to get his hands on those prizes and we’re certain that he will continue to deliver for both club and country for plenty of years to come.
Here’s how Mbappe’s record, as of his 25th birthday, compares with Messi’s and Ronaldo’s at the same age.
Kylian Mbappe
Appearances: 421
Goals: 309
Assists: 148
Minutes per goal: 103.3
Minutes per goal or assist: 69.87
Free-kicks: 0
Penalties: 38
League Goals: 180
Champions League Goals: 43
International Goals: 46
Trophies
Club: Ligue 1 x 6, Coupe de France x 3, Coupe de la Ligue x 2, Trophee des Champions x 2
Youth: UEFA Euro Under-19 x 1
International: World Cup x 1, UEFA Nations League x 1
Individual: Ligue 1 Player of the Year x 4, World Cup Golden Boot x 1, Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer x 5
Kylian Mbappé's 180th goal in Ligue 1 🇫🇷🔝 pic.twitter.com/9tOP5A8da3
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 17, 2023
Lionel Messi
Appearances: 399
Goals: 279
Assists: 121
Minutes per goal: 111.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 77.8
Free-kicks: 7
Penalties: 34
League Goals: 169
Champions League Goals: 51
International Goals: 26
Trophies
Club: La Liga x 5, Champions League x 3, Copa del Rey x 2, Supercopa de Espana x 4, UEFA Super Cup x 2
Youth: FIFA Under-20 World Champions x 1, Summer Olympics x 1
International: None
Individual: Ballon d’Or x 3, European Golden Shoe x 2, La Liga Best Player x 4, Pichichi (La Liga top scorer) x 2
Cristiano Ronaldo
Appearances: 407
Goals: 160
Assists: 70
Minutes per goal: 187.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 130.5
Free-kicks: 17
Penalties: 20
League Goals: 96
Champions League Goals: 21
International Goals: 22
Trophies
Club: Portuguese Super Cup x 1, Premier League x 3, FA Cup x 1, League Cup x 2, Champions League x 1, FIFA Club World Cup x1
Youth: Toulon Tournament x 1
International: None
Individual: Ballon d’Or x 1, European Golden Shoe x 1, Premier League Player of the Season x 2, PFA Players Player of the Year x 2, Premier League Golden Boot x 1, Puskas Award x1, Champions League top scorer x1
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