Mbappe Becomes Football's New Icon as Messi Joins MLS

July 2023 marked the end of an era in European football as Lionel Messi bid farewell to Paris Saint-Germain to join Major League Soccer in the United States. After leading Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022, Messi followed long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in leaving the European club scene. After two decades of dominating individual honours, it marked the passing of the baton to a new generation. A generation led by France ace Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé has shown us who he is, both with his club and with the national team. He's already doing really well in the present, but he's also the future of football. He embodies football, post-Cristiano Ronaldo, post-Messi. He's an outstanding player. By the age of 22, Mbappé had already scored in consecutive World Cup finals, celebrating victory in one, bagging a hat-trick in a losing cause in the other. After breaking through as a 16-year-old with Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain made the electrifying forward the second most expensive player in history when they agreed to pay 180 million euros for the then 18-year-old. Mbappé went on to shatter all kinds of records in the French capital, becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer by the age of 24. Known for his explosive pace, superb dribbling and clinical finishing, Mbappé is often compared to the great Pelé. And it was by becoming the first teenager since the Brazilian legend to score in a World Cup final that heralded Mbappé's arrival as a global superstar. That was during France's triumphant 2018 campaign. I knew before the final that if I had an opportunity to score, then I would make history. We did something great. We are very, very proud because it's for our country. Nothing beyond our country. It is the highest point. It's paramount. It was an absolute dream for me to win the World Cup. Four years later, Mbappé further enhanced comparisons with Pelé by scoring in a second World Cup final. In Qatar, he fired only the second hat-trick in World Cup final history, yet somehow ended up on the losing side. It was enough for Mbappé to win the World Cup golden boot and match Pelé's World Cup goals tally at the age of 23. It's already excellent to have won one World Cup, but the next objective is then to carry on, not to just sit there, because I think we have incredible potential. Our team can do wonderful things. After Qatar 2022, Mbappé was appointed France's new captain, a reflection of the forward's maturity. A status enhanced in 2024 when he completed his dream move to Real Madrid. It's incredible to be here today. For so many years I've gone to sleep and dreamt about it, and today I'm fulfilling it. I'm a happy boy today. I'm very happy. The heir to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The equal of Pelé. Captain of France and star striker for the biggest club side in the world. Kylian Mbappé is the face of football's greatest stage.