Comparing Mbappe’s records and trophies to Messi’s at the same age | OneFootball

It’s easy to forget that Kylian Mbappe is only 23 years old, given all that he’s already won and achieved in the game. He’s following in the footsteps of some of the all-time greats – including PSG team-mate Lionel Messi.

Some were already talking Messi up as the greatest player in history back in 2010 when he turned 23 and was front and centre as Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona conquered the world.

But how good does Mbappe compare at the same age? The two ridiculously goalscorers are considered by most to be the best players of their respective generations – could Mbappe go on to break Messi’s many records?

“Messi is a great player. I’m happy for him; he’s adjusting to a new life, a new city, a new club,” Mbappe told Le Parisien midway through Messi’s debut season in Paris.

“Even when you win the Ballon d’Or seven times, you have to adapt; that’s how it is. He’s getting better and better, he’s happy, and I’ve always said it, if we have a great Messi, it’s better. It’s easy to play with him.”

We’ve taken a look at their stats in detail – goals, assists, penalties – by the time they turned 23, as well as their many honours and achievements.

Note: all stats are up to their 23rd birthdays. Mbappe turned 23 in December 2021, so we’ve not included his goals, assists or honours won so far in 2022.

Kylian Mbappe

Games: 320 Goals: 197 Assists: 111 Penalties scored: 17

Minutes per goal: 115.9 Minutes per non-penalty goal: 126.9 Minutes per goal or assist: 74.1

Trophies

Youth Level:

UEFA European Under-19 Championship x 1 (2016),

Club Level:

Ligue 1 x 4  (2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20), Coupe de France x 3 (2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21), Coupe de la Ligue x 22017–18, 2019–20, Trophee des Champions: (2019, 2020)

International Level:

FIFA World Cup x 1 (2018), UEFA Nations League x (2020–21)

Individual:

Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year (2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19), Ligue 1 Player of the Year x 2 (2018–19, 2020–21), Golden Boy (2017), FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award (2018), Kopa Trophy (2018), French Player of the Year (2018, 2019, Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer x 3 (2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21), UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot x 1 (2020-21)

Lionel Messi

Games: 326 Goals: 197 Assists: 84 Penalties scored: 19

Minutes per goal: 125.4 Minutes per non-penalty goal: 138.7 Minutes per goal or assist: 87.9

Trophies

Youth Level:

FIFA World Youth Championship (2005)

Club Level:

La Liga x 4 (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10), Copa del Rey x 1 (2008–09), Supercopa de Espana x 3 (2006, 2009, 2010), UEFA Champions League x 2 (2005–06, 2008–0), UEFA Super Cup x 1 (2009), FIFA Club World Cup x 1 (2009)

International Level:

Summer Olympics (2008)

Individual:

Ballon d’Or x 1 (2009), FIFA World Player of the Year x 1 (2009), European Golden Shoe x 1 (2009–10), FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball x 1 (2009), La Liga Best Player x 2 (2008–09, 2009–10), Pichichi Trophy [La Liga top scorer] x 1 (2009-10)