Mbappé and the record he shares with Messi in the Champions League

At 23, Lionel Messi had 37 Champions League goals, two Ballon d’Ors and no World Cups. At the age of 23, with yesterday’s goal against Benfica, Kylian Mbappé has scored thirty-seven times in the most competitive club tournament on the planet, has lifted a World Cup, but has not yet been chosen by the majority as the best world footballer.

Mbappé is an incorfomista in the least sympathetic sense of the word. He is not a revolutionary, but rather a cocky one. Someone who has so much that he’s never happy about anything, except when he scores a goal and crosses his arms or when he outruns an opponent with a couple of strides.

It is in that handful of seconds in which he receives the embrace of his teammates and the praise of the audience that Mbappé shows us his most genuine smile. And it is that, although soccer has been the catapult of him towards the clouds of the ego, it is also the place where he has the closest contact with the earth.

On the pitch, Mbappé walks, dodges and accelerates. And he receives kicks, like those of the Argentine Otamendi and the Portuguese Antonio Silva. Later, at home and in front of the mirror, he basically levitates. Think of yourself first. And then on him.

Before measuring forces against the honorable Benfica of Portugal, what was most commented on was not some tactical drawing by Christophe Galtier to cover up the absence of Messi, excluded due to injury, but the imminent departure of Mbappé from Paris.

‘Donatello’ would feel diminished by the exceptional start to the season that his attacking partners, Messi and Neymar, have had, two legends who have rekindled the flame of their sporting spirit to tempt, in Qatar 2022, the coveted trophy that is missing from their races and with which they would win the hearts of their countries.

Mbappé would not be happy with the Paris Saint Germain board, because they would have promised him the arrival of a center forward so that he could play more freely on the wings.

It is not an irresponsible rumor, but rather an echo spread by prestigious media such as Marca de España or L’Equipe de France. The certain thing is that the revelation of Russia 2018 could leave in January to the English Liverpool. Real Madrid, who tempted him this year, would not be an option due to the bad relations between the Parisian and Madrid managers.

—Record man—

In this troubled context, PSG received Benfica. If last week they had tied at one in Portugal, this time the result would be the same. Both goals would come from twelve steps. First, Antonio Silva knocked down Juan Bernat and converted Mbappé and then Verratti brought down an opponent who made Joao Mario score.

This parity has left both at the top of Group H with eight units. Those who are several steps below, although with mathematical chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, are Juventus and Maccabi Haifa. Both with three points.

With Mbappé’s goal, the boy who was paired with Radamel Falcao at Monaco, has become PSG’s top scorer in the Champions League with 31 goals, one above Cavani and, in addition, he has equaled Messi’s 37 in this competition. If you levitate less, you can enjoy it.

PARTICIPATE IN THE #AWARDSDT!