Haaland vs Mbappe - Heirs Apparent

[JPRouve]

How so? In that time the PL has had 4 different winners (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Leicester), Ligue 1 has had 3. The points difference between the winner in PSG and the teams below them is also completely insane.

You think that one more winner makes that much of a difference? And the point differences between City and the rest as also been insane during a few seasons, there is only one season where the point difference was special in Ligue 1 which is 15-16, outside of that the point difference is fairly normal and far from insane.

 

[Skåre Willoch]

Interesting comparasion. Cruyff legacy while playing is mostly Ajax and national team, especially 1974 performance. He really didn't set the world alight during his Barcelona time. He was very good there, don't get me wrong, but in terms of both individual and team honours it didn't add much to his status.
Cruyff legacy for Barcelona (and football) goes way beyond playing though and that's way he is the most influential person in football hystory. But, if we are talking strictly about his playing days his legacy was cemented with Ajax and Netherlands.

If let's say Mbappe (on top of his WC performances) can add 3 CL during his time with PSG, same like Cruyff did with Ajax, no one will question him and he will become an all time great.

Cruyff was transferred to Barcelona when he was 26 years old at that time in 1973. In 1973, Cruyff was already established as the best player/attacker in the world( Kaiser was a defender). You can't deny that Cruyff's legacy only as a player was made by his playing days in Ajax both the domestic league and European tournament. At 26 years old before he moved to Barcelona for a world record transfer fee, he was already won 15 titles with Ajax.

Spoiler: Cruyff's Ajax

Ajax[12]

• Eredivisie: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73,
• KNVB Cup: 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72,
• European Cup: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73
• European Super Cup: 1972
• Intercontinental Cup: 1972

6 league titles, 4 KNVB Cup, 3 European Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup( didn't play in 1973 and 1971). That's combined 15 trophies, which were/are considered great achievements or successful as a footballer. I'm not talking about his awards at that time which were counted as enormous numbers of awards.

Spoiler: Personal awards

Player[12]

Cruyff receiving the 1971 Ballon d'Or

• Ballon d'Or: 1971, 1973
• Eredivisie top scorer: 1966–67, 1971–72
• KNVB Cup top scorer: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72
• European Cup top scorer: 1971–72
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1968,[216] 1972,
• Dutch Sportsman of the Year: 1973
• IOC European Footballer of the Season: 1970–71, 1972–73[220]

Wow, he got 15 personal awards at that time, which equaled his trophies at Ajax. At that time, Ajax's biggest rival was Happel's Feyenoord. Happel's Feyenoord was the first team in the world that mainly used a 4-3-3 system successfully both domestically and at the European level( and yes before Michel's Ajax). At that time, the Dutch league was considered a top 5 league in the world during the early 1970s (the peak period of Cruyff) and was in the building process to the next level in the late 1960s.

In Barcelona, he was still successful and considered one of the best players in the world. But, he faced some big declines both in statistics and in the level of performance since 1976 ( you can watch his performances in 1976 both friendlies and Euro, and compare him to his previous performance in WC 1974). He finished his career as a top-10 player in the world at only maybe age 30 years old. So, someone can say that he lacks the definition of longevity at the top level. In Barcelona, Although, he established himself as one of the most influential people in football history, I would say it's not only his performances on the pitch but it's come from other departments too.

Would Cruyff's legacy be the same at Ajax?

My answer- is yes as a footballer, but no as a football person. I'm confident that if he continued playing at Ajax until the late 1970s, he would've been even more successful in terms of trophies( including getting one or two more European Cup) and even personal awards. No, as a football person, I think everyone knows what he has impacted on Barcelona until the present day and it has been traditional for Barcelona in both terms of playing and other terms.

The gap between the Dutch league and the Spanish League wasn't that far in the 1970s era. It was closed more than you think especially in the early 1970s when the Dutch league is considered to be a winner compared to Spanish League.

For Mbappe, we will see later what he will do and choose next.

Well, he did win 1,5 of his 3 Ballon d'Ors while at Barcelona, so I guess he set the world slightly alight during his time there?
But it's very difficult to compare anyways - Cruyff played in a time before football became the globalized business it is now. And as you mention - the difference between La Liga and Eredivisie was something else back then.

However, I do believe that either Ligue 1 Uber Eats has to improve, or Mbappe has to move. He might become an all time great no matter what, but if he stays in Ligue 1 Uber Eats for the rest of his career, it will for sure be used as a stick to beat him with.

 

[redcucumber]

You think that one more winner makes that much of a difference? And the point differences between City and the rest as also been insane during a few seasons, there is only one season where the point difference was special in Ligue 1 which is 15-16, outside of that the point difference is fairly normal and far from insane.

It's a small sample size of only 7 years, so yes of course it is significant.

Ligue 1
2015-16 - 21 points
2016-17 - 12 points
2017-18 - 13 points
2018-19 - 16 points
2019-20 - PSG 12 points clear with a game in hand after 27 games
2020-21 - 1 point
2021-22 - 15 points
93 points (with 11 less games played)

PL
2015-16 - 10 points
2016-17 - 7 points
2017-18 - 19 points
2018-19 - 1 point
2019-20 - 18 points
2020-21 - 12 points
2021-22 - 1 point
68 points

Find it hard to believe anyone would argue Ligue 1 is as competitive as the PL. Ho-hum.

 

[JPRouve]

It's a small sample size of only 7 years, so yes of course it is significant.

Ligue 1
2015-16 - 21 points
2016-17 - 12 points
2017-18 - 13 points
2018-19 - 16 points
2019-20 - PSG 12 points clear with a game in hand after 27 games
2020-21 - 1 point
2021-22 - 15 points
93 points (with 11 less games played)

PL
2015-16 - 10 points
2016-17 - 7 points
2017-18 - 19 points
2018-19 - 1 point
2019-20 - 18 points
2020-21 - 12 points
2021-22 - 1 point
68 points

Find it hard to believe anyone would argue Ligue 1 is as competitive as the PL. Ho-hum.

25 points over 7 seasons isn't a big difference, that's an average between 3 and 4 more points between the first and second. And that's a big sample size.

 

[redcucumber]

25 points over 7 seasons isn't a big difference, that's an average between 3 and 4 more points between the first and second. And that's a big sample size.

I disagree, 3-4 points is definitely significant in a title race.

 

[JPRouve]

I disagree, 3-4 points is definitely significant in a title race.

Objectively it's not, it's the equivalent of a loss and a draw instead of two wins over 38 games. There is no context where it's considered a lot.

 

[redcucumber]

Objectively it's not, it's the equivalent of a loss and a draw instead of two wins over 38 games. There is no context where it's considered a lot.

3-4 points would have been the difference in 3 title races out of 14. Objectively that is significant.

 

[JPRouve]

3-4 points would have been the difference in 3 title races out of 14. Objectively that is significant.

Yes it signifies that the gape is small enough that one game for each teams changes the champions. The point wasn't whether it's a significant gap but whether it is a large gap, it's not.

 

[redcucumber]

Yes it signifies that the gape is small enough that one game for each teams changes the champions. The point wasn't whether it's a significant gap but whether it is a large gap, it's not.

The point I made was that 3.5 points is significant in a title race, as demonstrated by the three title races out of 14 that had 1 point in them.

 

[TsuWave]

If you look at the long term. Maybe like 13 years from now, I can see Haaland doing much better than Mbappe which makes him having the best career out of the two.
Mbappe relies too much on his pace while Halaand will still be scoring goals no matter what.

Haaland’s whole thing is relying on his physical attributes. Technically he’s lacking when compared to Mbappe - and though Mbappe does rely on his speed, generally speaking, technically sound players tend to outlast those who lean heavily towards their physical attributes like Haaland does.

If it’s true he’s stayed at PSG because he can dictate the role of his and others at the club then it says a bit about someone especially at his age. Once he’s had that will he be happy anywhere else where he’s not in control?

Sounds like a guy that cares about football then. Why would anyone not stay where they’re supposedly offered more control of their career? How/why does that translate into something negative about said person’s priorities?

 

[troylocker]

If he played for City?

He's been playing for a top 5 side in the world in the french league, so yes, there is very little suggesting that he would get higher numbers for City than he already has for PSG. His endproduct would be more likely to go down than up.
Haaland is definitely the better goalscorer of the two.

 

[TheNewEra]

Today shows why Mbappe will be considered with the greats if he considers his form up.

He's beating Messi for Goals + Assists at the same age (23) but the question is can he continue to output that level for 10 more years, and what happens when he loses his pace as he gets older.

I don't think the transition will be as graceful for him without his speed but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up in the next decade.

 

[redcucumber]

Today shows why Mbappe will be considered with the greats if he considers his form up.

He's beating Messi for Goals + Assists at the same age (23) but the question is can he continue to output that level for 10 more years, and what happens when he loses his pace as he gets older.

I don't think the transition will be as graceful for him without his speed but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up in the next decade.

Mbappe doing it in the French league with PSG isn't the same as Messi doing it in La Liga.

 

[TheNewEra]

Mbappe doing it in the French league with PSG isn't the same as Messi doing it in La Liga.

Mbappe will end up at Madrid I'm 99% sure, time will tell.

His CL record is also very good.

 

[BalanceUnAutreJoint]

Haaland doesn't even get a fair chance to compete

Every 2 years he'll have nothing to feast on while Mbappe gets to play a tournament with the best NT squad in the world

I do believe Haaland can win a BdO against Mbappe in non WC/Euro years though. Shame for him that both 2023 and 2024 BdOs have international comps

 

[troylocker]

Haaland doesn't even get a fair chance to compete

Every 2 years he'll have nothing to feast on while Mbappe gets to play a tournament with the best NT squad in the world

I do believe Haaland can win a BdO against Mbappe in non WC/Euro years though. Shame for him that both 2023 and 2024 BdOs have international comps

He'll have to score an absolute shitload of goals and win both the league and the CL to have a chance.
Messi might even be in for another BdO before the youngsters take over.

 

[BalanceUnAutreJoint]

He'll have to score an absolute shitload of goals and win both the league and the CL to have a chance.
Messi might even be in for another BdO before the youngsters take over.

This season it's pretty much over unless PSG goes out to Bayern and City wins a treble with Haaland shattering the PL all time top scorer record in the process

But even then I'm not sure he'd win it over Messi

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Today shows why Mbappe will be considered with the greats if he considers his form up.

He's beating Messi for Goals + Assists at the same age (23) but the question is can he continue to output that level for 10 more years, and what happens when he loses his pace as he gets older.

I don't think the transition will be as graceful for him without his speed but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up in the next decade.

I believe Haaland is also beating them at the same age. But numbers aren't everything. Messi and Ronaldo were less developed as young players and more wingers / 10s than pure forwards / poachers. Moreover Messi is sort of a hybrid playmaker plus forward.

I have no doubt that Mbappe will be the best player in the world for a few years at least and also win some Balon Dors. The question is whether he'll have any competition in this regard as I'm not seeing any other best in the world level talents around right now which is a shame.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

He'll have to score an absolute shitload of goals and win both the league and the CL to have a chance.
Messi might even be in for another BdO before the youngsters take over.

Depends on how much weightage winning the WC has. I'm not how focused Messi will be for the remainder of the season. Unlike others he has very little to prove as he's achieved his dream. Usually in WC years it's all about the WC

 

[tom8888sa]

The more I watch him the more I think he won't have the same career as Haaland. Haaland just seem that he could extend his career into mid 30's since it's mostly positional awareness for him. Mbappe seem to have that speed need which could vanish with age.

 

[Kazi]

Mbappe clear

But I just know Haaland is going to be so angry when the Prem restarts. Expecting 6-8 goals in next 3 games, and he’s going to absolutely hammer those goals in as well.

 

[troylocker]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

 

[Skills]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

Also worth remember Messi went super saiyan one year and scored 91 goals in a calendar year. Then continued scoring 50+ goals a season after that

 

[RedRonaldo]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

Yes but both of them rely heavily on pace or strength, this usually won’t last them well beyond their 30s. Also apart from aging/physically declining, there are injuries, drop of form factors.

We will have to see again in 10 years time.

Ronaldo - 819 goals
Messi - 793 goals

Mbappe - 253 goals
Haaland - 179 goals

A) Best scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 50 goals per season):

Mbappe - possibly 753 goals
Haaland - possibly 679 goals

B) More likely scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 45 goals per season):

Mbappe - 703 goals
Haaland - 629 goals

C) Minimum expectation in 10 years time (assume they both scored at least 40 goals per season):

Mbappe - 653 goals
Haaland - 579 goals

By then Mbappe would be around 34, whereas Haaland would be around 32, and they would be in their physical decline, won’t beat players with pace/strength anymore, which means they have to find another weapon to score goals.

I would say if it’s scenario A, there’s chance they may break Ronaldo/Messi record. If it’s B, we will have to see how they transformed themselves in their 30s but it will be difficult. If it’s C, they won’t break it.

But rather of breaking those accumulative career goal records which requires unreal longevity/consistency/luck on avoiding injuries, I think both of them have chance to beak other records out there.

Mbappe
- could break Klose’s record on most goals in WC (likely)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most CL goals (possibly)
- could level/break Pele’s record on most WC wins? (possibly)
- could level/break Ronaldo’s record on scoring in most WC (possibly)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most international goal (possibly)
- could become all time top scorer for France (absolutely)

Haaland
- could break Messi’s record on most goals in a season (possibly)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most CL goals (possibly)
- could break Shearer record on most PL goals (highly likely if he stays longer)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most goals in single CL season (possibly)
- could become all time top scorer for Norway (absolutely)

 

[AndySmith1990]

Hypothetically, if Haaland went on to score 1000 career goals and won everything at club level, would he still be expected to win a world cup with Norway to be considered as good as Messi, Maradonna, and Pele? Just wondering, considering all the recent talk of Messi having to win the world cup

 

[Red the Bear]

Hypothetically, if Haaland went on to score 1000 career goals and won everything at club level, would he still be expected to win a world cup with Norway to be considered as good as Messi, Maradonna, and Pele? Just wondering, considering all the recent talk of Messi having to win the world cup

He'll never be considered as great as those 3 because were all incredibly great all around not just in a single specific area.

Messi for example was both a lethal world class finisher, one of the best play makers around and the best dribbler of his generation by far, haland can't simply even dream of reaching those highs.

He'll be considered the greatest goal scorer of all time if he scored 1000 goals though.

 

[JPRouve]

Hypothetically, if Haaland went on to score 1000 career goals and won everything at club level, would he still be expected to win a world cup with Norway to be considered as good as Messi, Maradonna, and Pele? Just wondering, considering all the recent talk of Messi having to win the world cup

I think that someone like Haaland will be at the top of the goalscorer list alongside Gert Muller, Lewandowski, Romario, Van Basten and a few others. Unless he develops his game in a way that is difficult to expect, he will never be likened to Messi or Maradona who are seen as the best playmakers in the history of the game and in the case of Messi arguably the best goalscorer on top of it.

 

[Samid]

Yes but both of them rely heavily on pace or strength, this usually won’t last them well beyond their 30s. Also apart from aging/physically declining, there are injuries, drop of form factors.

We will have to see again in 10 years time.

Ronaldo - 819 goals
Messi - 793 goals

Mbappe - 253 goals
Haaland - 179 goals

A) Best scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 50 goals per season):

Mbappe - possibly 753 goals
Haaland - possibly 679 goals

B) More likely scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 45 goals per season):

Mbappe - 703 goals
Haaland - 629 goals

C) Minimum expectation in 10 years time (assume they both scored at least 40 goals per season):

Mbappe - 653 goals
Haaland - 579 goals

By then Mbappe would be around 34, whereas Haaland would be around 32, and they would be in their physical decline, won’t beat players with pace/strength anymore, which means they have to find another weapon to score goals.

I would say if it’s scenario A, there’s chance they may break Ronaldo/Messi record. If it’s B, we will have to see how they transformed themselves in their 30s but it will be difficult. If it’s C, they won’t break it.

But rather of breaking those accumulative career goal records which requires unreal longevity/consistency/luck on avoiding injuries, I think both of them have chance to beak other records out there.

Mbappe
- could break Klose’s record on most goals in WC (likely)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most CL goals (possibly)
- could level/break Pele’s record on most WC wins? (possibly)
- could level/break Ronaldo’s record on scoring in most WC (possibly)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most international goal (possibly)
- could become all time top scorer for France (absolutely)

Haaland
- could break Messi’s record on most goals in a season (possibly)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most CL goals (possibly)
- could break Shearer record on most PL goals (highly likely if he stays longer)
- could break Ronaldo’s record on most goals in single CL season (possibly)
- could become all time top scorer for Norway (absolutely)

Assuming they both stay fit and healthy I don’t see any scenario where Mbappe ends up with more goals. Haaland will outscore him in most injury free seasons.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I think that someone like Haaland will be at the top of the goalscorer list alongside Gert Muller, Lewandowski, Romario, Van Basten and a few others. Unless he develops his game in a way that is difficult to expect, he will never be likened to Messi or Maradona who are seen as the best playmakers in the history of the game and in the case of Messi arguably the best goalscorer on top of it.

That’s thing that makes him so special, isn’t it?

I’ve watched enough of Haaland this season to be fairly convinced he will never be in the same bracket as Messi for exactly that reason.

You’ve (probably) watched much more of Mbappé than me. Could he add that creativity to his game?

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

Using goals as a means for them surpassing them is silly.

Gerd Muller has way more goals than Diego Maradona and he's an inferior player.

Haaland can be in the tier of amazing strikers like Benzema, Lewandowski, and Suarez assuming natural progression. Don't think his ceiling is higher than that, but that's still amazing.

Mbappe's ceiling is much higher and he's simply a much better player than Haaland. He has a chance to be the best performing player in WC history and can perhaps surpass CR7 when it's all said and done.

 

[GuyfromAustria]

That’s thing that makes him so special, isn’t it?

It's like Michael Cox said in the Athletic-Podcast: Basically you can do three things if you receive a ball - pass, dribble or shoot/score, and Messi arguably was the best in the world in all of them at various stages of his career.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Hypothetically, if Haaland went on to score 1000 career goals and won everything at club level, would he still be expected to win a world cup with Norway to be considered as good as Messi, Maradonna, and Pele? Just wondering, considering all the recent talk of Messi having to win the world cup

I think most objective people didn't need Messi to win the WC. They(me included) wanted to see him perform in key matches in the KO stages and galvanize an entire nation behind him. They got to the final in 2014, but I thought Messi was a bit subdued in the KO stages. He wasn't this time and he delivered in every single KO match.

Also Haaland is nowhere near Messi, Pele and Maradona as a playmaker nor dribbler, so it doesn't matter how much he wins. And he's not going to suddenly develop that talent.

 

[JPRouve]

That’s thing that makes him so special, isn’t it?

I’ve watched enough of Haaland this season to be fairly convinced he will never be in the same bracket as Messi for exactly that reason.

You’ve (probably) watched much more of Mbappé than me. Could he add that creativity to his game?

Mbappé is creative but in the same way Ronaldo is, not like Messi. Mbappé creates lots of chances for his teammates and also has a fairly high assists ratio but I don't see him turn into Messi. For me the interesting thing about Mbappé and Haaland is that while people have decided to put them in a competition, they are probably the most complete partnership, it's a blessing that Real Madrid didn't manage to get both.

And yes, Messi is special because he is the best attacking player of his generation in all aspects.

 

[RedRonaldo]

I believe Haaland is also beating them at the same age. But numbers aren't everything. Messi and Ronaldo were less developed as young players and more wingers / 10s than pure forwards / poachers. Moreover Messi is sort of a hybrid playmaker plus forward.

I have no doubt that Mbappe will be the best player in the world for a few years at least and also win some Balon Dors. The question is whether he'll have any competition in this regard as I'm not seeing any other best in the world level talents around right now which is a shame.

Haaland could hit some 50+ goals a season and win some CL with City, which is enough for him to get some Ballon D’ors and compete with Mbappe.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Assuming they both stay fit and healthy I don’t see any scenario where Mbappe ends up with more goals. Haaland will outscore him in most injury free seasons.

But it seems Haaland does have more injuries issues than Mbappe though. So realistically it could end up either ways,

 

[troylocker]

Yes but both of them rely heavily on pace or strength, this usually won’t last them well beyond their 30s. Also apart from aging/physically declining, there are injuries, drop of form factors.

We will have to see again in 10 years time.

Ronaldo - 819 goals
Messi - 793 goals

Mbappe - 253 goals
Haaland - 179 goals

Best scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 50 goals per season):

Mbappe - possibly 753 goals
Haaland - possibly 679 goals

More likely scenario In 10 years time (assume they both score avg 45 goals per season):

Mbappe - 703 goals
Haaland - 629 goals

Minimum expectation in 10 years time (assume they both scored at least 40 goals per season):

Mbappe - 653 goals
Haaland - 579 goals

By then Mbappe would be around 34, whereas Haaland would be around 32, and they would be in their physical decline, won’t beat players with pace/strength anymore, which means they have to find another weapon to score goals.

Point by with the graphic is that both is ahead of schedule. It all depends on longivity and injuries. If they avoid injuries and stay fit, they will probably make it. If they "only" the minimum expectations it would be a huge dissapointment considering the start of teir career:

Haaland last 3,5 seasons (19-22 years old):
19/20 season 44 goals/10 assists in 42 games for club and country
20/21 season 48 goals/13 assists in 51 games for club and country
21/22 season 42 goals/10 assists in 41 games for club and country (a lot of injury problems)
22/23 season 24 goals/3 assists in 20 games for club and country so far.
158 goals/36 assists in 154 games for club and country. (still 20 months to Haaland turns 24)

Mbappe last 4,5 seasons (19-24 years old (turns 24 today)):
18/19 season 44 goals/21 assists in 54 games for club and country
19/20 season 30 goals/18 assists in 38 games for club and country (COVID - shortened season)
20/21 season 46 goals/16 assists in 61 games for club and country
21/22 season 49 goals/31 assists in 55 games for club and country
22/23 season 28 goals/7 assists in 29 games for club and country so far
197 goals/93 assists in 237

Mbappe and Haaland have just started their careers, are only going to get better for a few more years still and are already averaging over 40 goals per season. Haaland has been growing into his frame and has struggled a bit with injuries, but still managed more than a goal per game and minimum 40+ goals per season. He will most likely struggle less with injuries in the years to come so he'll probably be able to handle more games per season going forward as well.

Messi from 19-24 years old:
06/07 season 21 goals/5 assists in 46 games for club and country
07/08 season 19 goals/19 assists in 50 games for club and country
08/09 season 41 goals/21 assists in 60 games for club and country
09/10 season 48 goals/13 assists in 63 games for club and country
10/11 season 57 goals/30 assists in 62 games for club and country
186 goals/88 assists in 281 games

Ronaldo from 19-24 years old:
04/05 season 17 goals/14 assists in 59 games for club and country
05/06 season 15 goals/10 assists in 62 games for club and country
06/07 season 28 goals/17 assists in 61 games for club and country
07/08 season 46 goals/11 assists in 61 games for club and country
08/09 season 27 goals/12 assists in 60 games for club and country
133 goals/64 assists in 303 games

Messi and Ronaldo played 55-80 games per season for 10+ years each from this point in their careers. That's the hardest part and the biggest challenge. They have the tools, so if Mbappe and Haaland can handle that number of games, I think they'll get there and past. Mbappe also has the advantage of playing for a titlecontender in every WC and EURO as well.
I can't imagine Haaland not hitting 50+ and 60+ season mulitple times the next 10 years.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Haaland could hit some 50+ goals a season and win some CL with City, which is enough for him to get some Ballon D’ors and compete with Mbappe.

What I meant was that I don't feel like Haaland is best player in the world material unlike Mbappe - at least for a sustained period. Mbappe may be a player of moments but Haaland is a pure poacher. Ideally there'd be more competition of the complete variety.

 

[The Corinthian]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

This is a really cool graphic.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If these two have the longivity of Messi and Ronaldo there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't surpass them.....

http://johnburnmurdoch.github.io/projects/goal-lines/all-comps/

This graphic shows the goalscoring stats throughout the careers of the 211 most notorious goalscorers who's played in the top 5 leagues in Europe since 1980, and that Haaland-curve is just mindblowing. Mbappe's is not so bad either...

Lets enjoy the ride despite the fact it's very unlikely we'll see any of them in Red.

Only in terms of G/A. And that too in cumulative terms.

If any of them plays for City / Liverpool you still want us to 'enjoy the ride'? feck that. Hope he scores an own goal to send them out of the CL.

 

[troylocker]

Using goals as a means for them surpassing them is silly.

Gerd Muller has way more goals than Diego Maradona and he's an inferior player.

Haaland can be in the tier of amazing strikers like Benzema, Lewandowski, and Suarez assuming natural progression. Don't think his ceiling is higher than that, but that's still amazing.

Mbappe's ceiling is much higher and he's simply a much better player than Haaland. He has a chance to be the best performing player in WC history and can perhaps surpass CR7 when it's all said and done.

Is it? That you prefer dribblers, maestros or a more complete type of player over a pure goalscorer is fine, but it's obviously your subjective opinion.

I think Muller would have had a greater legacy if he didn't play 2nd fiddle to Der Kaizer most of his career both for Bayern and for West Germany.

Are you telling me that if Haaland scores more goals than Messi/Ronaldo he'll still be in the Benzema, Lewandowski and Suarez tier? You'll find Benzema, Lewandowski and Suarez in that graphic as well. Do you think they stand out in the same way?
We haven't seen a young striker banging in goals at this rate since Pele in the Paulista (regional league in Brazil) back in the 50's, he's crushing records whenever he steps on to a pitch. I don't think you really understand what you see in that graphic, in his statistics or if you watch him play. It's different. It might not be as pretty as Messi's dribbling or Maradona doing his magic, but it's more brutal and effective than pretty much anything I've see on a football pitch.
Their goals are of course one of the main reasons why Messi and Ronaldo are up there too, together with the trophies, but they literally played in superteams that dominated 95% of the games they played for more than a decade each. No one has ever had better support crews on a football pitch than those two. If they had 350 career goals each they wouldn't have been close to any goat discussions. There is more than one way to be a great footballer. I've seen street artists do things with a football that Maradona, Messi and Ronaldinho could only dream of doing.....What makes you a great footballer is the impact you have for your team on the pitch, which of course is why Maradona is considered one of the greatest of all time.

To make it into a goat discussion by the end of his career he'll need to win a lot of trophies, Ballon d'ors and take Norway to the KO stages in a couple of EUROs and WCs as well. It is not easy, but it's definitely not impossible.

If Mbappe goes to Real Madrid soon and continues his trajectory he'll be a Ballon d'or contender most seasons for sure...

I guess we'll know more as time flies by.