Am not sure how Mbappe is playing it safe while Haaland is proving himself in some hard circumctances. If you didn't know, you would think it is Maradona/Napoli story and not Haaland banging them from 3 yards for one of the most dominant teams in the world who are fully set to maximize his numbers in a way that very few teams could (if any).
You don't see how playing for PSG in Ligue 1 between Messi and Neymar is playing it safe vs. playing for City in the EPL? Who do you think has the most shots per 90 between the 2? Do you really think City is more dominant in the PL than PSG is in Ligue 1? PSG in Ligue 1 is the most unbalanced we've ever seen a league. They literally have the best player in the league in every position. Do you think City are more dominating and set to feed their main man than 2009-2016 Barca and Real Madrid?
If you haven't noticed: Haaland is 9 goals ahead of the second highest goalscorer in the top 5 leagues, he on course to smash the previous all time record in the PL by between 10-20 goals. Good teams have had great strikers in the PL before, but this is just rediculous in comparison. Aguero's EPL record is 26, he played for a arguably even stronger team through his peak and Haaland is on 25 goals after 19 games of his first season. Have you watched City play this season? Do you really think they are set to maximize his numbers? There is almost unlimited room for improving that aspect for them. He's playing against parked busses every week and has 2 PL CBs on him from first to final whistle, he's literally feeding off scraps compared to Mbappe. People said he wouldn't fit City because he needed space to make runs, and now he's scoring 1,5 goal a game against parked busses, so I guess you need to make up new narratives along the way to downplay what he's doing.
I think chance creation/playmaking is the most difficult discipline in football which is why there are no pure goal scorers or defenders considered among the usual suspects in greatest of all time discussions. Haaland is obviously a freak in terms of goal scoring but for me, a player that reliant on service can't really be considered the best in the world. Mbappe is also very focused on goals, just not as much as Haaland. I enjoy watching both and hope they break every record they can but I think it is a bit annoying that people focus on goal stats that much. Generally I think this generation will be much more even in terms of top players. Nobody will stand out by the margins Messi and Cristiano used to. Here's hoping that players such as Gavi, Wirtz, Pedri, Musiala, etc. fulfill their potential because those type of players are much more involved and on their day are capable of having 20+ great plays in a game while Haaland and to a lesser extent Mbappe are often invisible until they score, even if they do it twice or thrice.
There is a lot of potential top players coming forward, but there is a reason the discussion mainly involves Mbappe and Haaland. Their end product.
Mbappe is still pretty even with Messi at the same age in numbers, and Haaland is ahead of that. This is compared to the GOAT.
Top 5 leagues (Haaland at 22, Messi after 11/12 season, Mbappe at 24)
Haaland 1,13 goals/90 and 1,41 goals+assists/90
Messi 0,92 goals/90 and 1,37 goals+assists/90
Mbappe 0,91 goals/90 and 1,29 goals+assists/90
CL (at 24 (Haaland at 22)
Haaland 1,47 goals/90 and 1,63 goals+assists/90
Messi 0,84 goals/90 and 1,18 goals+assists/90
Mbappe 0,77 goals/90 and 1,28 goals+assists/90
National team (Haaland at 22, Messi after 11/12 season, Mbappe 24)
Haaland 1,03 goals/90 and 1,17 goals+assists/90
Messi 0,40 goals/90 and 0,78 goals+assists/90
Mbappe 0,65 goals/90 and 1,07 goals+assists/90 (World Champion)
Peak seasons in the CL and League:
Haaland this season: 1,50 goals/90 and 1,65 goals+assists/90
Messi 11/12: 1,35 goals/90 and 1,86 goals+assists/90 (50 goals in LaLiga and 14 in the CL)
Mbappe 18/19: 1,10 goals/90 and 1,54 goals+assists/90
Putting Ronaldo's numbers in here is pointless, because he, despite having won a ballon d'or (at 23), would look pretty mediocre next to these three.
When you are comparable or better than the goats at the same age you'll get highlighted.
Haaland is scoring at a higher rate this season than Messi did in his record-season, and it is not because he is getting the best ever service, because he isn't. I don't get the need to downplay it.
What Mbappe does is also insane, but not to the same degree numberswise, and he needs to do it outside of France.