Is Mbappe the best to do it?
Tune in to the Football Unspoken podcast as hosts Rob and Josh engage in a captivating discussion: Can Kylian Mbappe surpass the legendary legacies of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Before exploring this intriguing topic, they begin with a fascinating tidbit about the Galacticos era at Real Madrid. This historic period, ignited in 2000 with Perez’s presidency, witnessed the signing of exceptional talents such as Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, and Ronaldo, shaping the football landscape significantly.
Rob presents a compelling case, suggesting that Mbappe has the potential to outshine Messi and Ronaldo, particularly if he secures a plethora of titles with Real Madrid, including prestigious trophies like the Champions League and the league. He astutely observes how the intertwined reputations of Ronaldo and Messi over the years have set a daunting standard for aspiring football stars, making it a formidable task for anyone to reach their stratospheric heights.
In contrast, Josh offers a more cautious perspective. While acknowledging that Mbappe’s star could ascend to new heights through stellar performances at Real Madrid, he remains skeptical about the young phenom’s ability to truly rival Messi and Ronaldo in the hearts of devoted football aficionados. It’s a debate that sparks passion and intrigue, as the football world eagerly awaits to see how Mbappe’s career unfolds in the coming years.
Key Takeaways
- Mbappe’s reputation could significantly improve if he performs well at Real Madrid.
- Mbappe could outshine Messi and Ronaldo by the end of his career if he wins everything with Real Madrid.
- Ronaldo and Messi’s reputations amplified each other throughout history, making it harder for anyone to reach their heights.
General Knowledge Question
In this episode of the Football Unspoken Podcast, the hosts, Rob and Josh, start off with a general knowledge question. Rob takes the listeners over to Spain for La Liga and asks Josh if he remembers when the galacticos era first started. The galacticos era refers to the time when big stars joined Real Madrid. Josh takes a guess and says 1996 or 1997, but Rob corrects him by saying that it started in 2000 when Perez first became the president of Real Madrid. The first era of the galacticos was in 2006, where they got players like Zidan, Luis Figo, and R9. The second resurgence of the galacticos was in 2009, where they got players like David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rob then asks Josh if Mbappe will be remembered as a better player than Ronaldo and Messi. Josh starts by saying that Messi and Ronaldo’s reputations kind of amplified each other throughout history, making it harder for whoever comes next to reach their heights on a social level. He then goes on to say that if Mbappe goes to Real Madrid and wins everything like the Champions League and the league, he will be thought of as better than Messi and Ronaldo. Josh also mentions that if Mbappe still goes on after Real Madrid, potentially one more big move before the end of his career, and wins a Premier League, he will outshine Ronaldo and Messi by the end of his career.
However, Rob disagrees with Josh’s initial argument and says that Mbappe will be remembered by the football illiterate as a better player than Messi and Ronaldo because of his better stats. Mbappe has better stats than Ronaldo and Messi at his age, with 421 appearances, 309 goals, and 148 assists, compared to Messi’s 399 appearances, 279 goals, and 121 assists, and Ronaldo’s 407 appearances, 160 goals, and 70 assists. Rob also mentions that Mbappe’s reputation will skyrocket if he does well at Real Madrid, and people will consider him one of the greats, especially after Messi and Ronaldo have retired. However, Rob also points out that Mbappe has not faced the same level of competition as Messi and Ronaldo did when they were in Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.
Galacticos Era Overview
Start of Galacticos Era
The Galacticos era began in the year 2000 when Perez became the president of Real Madrid. This era was characterized by the arrival of big stars to the club, including Zidane, Luis Figo, and R9.
First Era Key Players
The first era of the Galacticos era was in 2006. During this time, Real Madrid acquired key players such as Zidane, Luis Figo, and R9. These players helped the team achieve great success in both the league and the Champions League.
Second Era Resurgence
In 2009, Real Madrid experienced a second resurgence in the Galacticos era. This time, the team acquired players such as David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Cristiano Ronaldo. With these players, Real Madrid won numerous titles, including the league and the Champions League.
Potential Third Era
Currently, there is talk of a potential third Galacticos era at Real Madrid. The team has already acquired promising young players such as Jude Bellingham, and there are rumors of Mbappe joining the team. If these players perform well and help the team achieve great success, it could mark the beginning of a new era for Real Madrid.
Mbappe’s Potential Legacy
Messi and Ronaldo Rivalry Impact
Mbappe’s potential legacy is already being compared to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the greatest football players of all time. The constant comparison between Messi and Ronaldo has heightened their reputation and kept them in the conversation throughout their careers. Mbappe will have to overcome this rivalry impact to reach the heights of Messi and Ronaldo. However, if he continues to perform at his current level and wins major titles, he could outshine them by the end of his career.
Mbappe’s Achievements
At just 24 years old, Mbappe has already achieved a lot in his career. He won the World Cup at a young age and has impressive stats with 421 appearances, 309 goals, and 148 assists. These stats are better than those of Messi and Ronaldo at the same age. Mbappe has the potential to become one of the greatest football players of all time if he continues to perform at this level and wins major titles with top clubs like Real Madrid.
Comparative Career Trajectories
Mbappe’s career trajectory is different from that of Messi and Ronaldo. He has played most of his career in the French league with PSG, which is not as competitive as La Liga or the Premier League. However, if he moves to a top club like Real Madrid and continues to perform at his current level, he could surpass Messi and Ronaldo in terms of achievements and reputation. Mbappe has the potential to become one of the greatest football players of all time, but only time will tell if he can achieve this feat.
Statistical Comparison
Mbappe vs. Messi and Ronaldo at Similar Ages
Comparing Mbappe’s statistics at his current age to those of Messi and Ronaldo at a similar age reveals that the Frenchman has better stats. Mbappe has made 421 appearances, scored 309 goals, and provided 148 assists, while Messi had 399 appearances, 279 goals, and 121 assists, and Ronaldo had 407 appearances, 160 goals, and 70 assists. However, it should be noted that Mbappe’s stats have been achieved in the French league, which is considered to be less competitive than La Liga, where Messi and Ronaldo played during their early careers.
League Dominance and Its Effects
The dominance of Mbappe’s current team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), in the French league has led to some questioning the validity of his statistical achievements. PSG has won five consecutive league titles with little competition, which has allowed Mbappe to perform with relative ease. In contrast, Messi and Ronaldo played for two of the best teams in the world, Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, during their early careers, where they faced tough competition in La Liga.
However, Mbappe’s potential move to Real Madrid could provide him with the opportunity to prove himself in a more competitive league and solidify his reputation as one of the best players in the world. If he performs well for Real Madrid and wins major titles such as the Champions League and the league, Mbappe could potentially surpass Messi and Ronaldo in terms of reputation and accomplishments. Nevertheless, some argue that Mbappe will never reach the same level of greatness as Messi and Ronaldo, who have dominated the football world for over a decade.
Reputation and Performance
Impact of Moving to Bigger Clubs
Moving to a bigger club can have a significant impact on a player’s reputation and performance. The increased exposure and competition can push players to improve their game and reach new heights. This is evident in the case of Real Madrid’s galacticos era, where big-name players such as Zidane, Figo, and Ronaldo moved to the club and propelled it to new levels of success. Similarly, the potential move of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid could result in a significant boost to his reputation and performance. If he continues to perform at the same level and helps Real Madrid win major titles such as the Champions League and the league, he could be considered one of the greatest players of all time.
Reputational Gain from Club Transfers
Transferring to a bigger club can also result in a significant reputational gain for players. Players who move to clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Juventus are often seen as more successful and talented than those who remain at smaller clubs. This is due to the increased exposure and scrutiny that comes with playing for a bigger club, as well as the higher level of competition. For example, Jude Bellingham’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid resulted in a significant boost to his reputation, as he was seen as a rising star in the football world. Similarly, Declan Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal resulted in a significant increase in his reputation, as he was seen as a key player for both club and country. Overall, moving to a bigger club can have a significant impact on a player’s reputation and performance, and could potentially propel them to new heights of success.
Conclusion
In the Football Unspoken podcast, Rob and Josh engaged in a discussion about whether Kylian Mbappe will be remembered as a better player than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Rob argued that if Mbappe goes to Real Madrid and wins everything, including the Champions League and the league, he will be considered better than Messi and Ronaldo. He also mentioned that the consistent comparison between Messi and Ronaldo amplified their reputations throughout history, making it harder for other players to reach their heights. On the other hand, Josh argued that Mbappe’s stats might be better than Messi and Ronaldo’s due to playing in a league dominated by PSG, but he would never come close to being remembered as great as Messi and Ronaldo by true football lovers.
Both Rob and Josh agreed that Mbappe’s reputation could skyrocket if he performs well at Real Madrid, and he could be considered one of the greats in the future. They also mentioned that reputation gain is natural when a player moves from a club like PSG to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Juventus. However, they acknowledged that recency bias would come into play once Messi and Ronaldo retire, and if Mbappe continues to perform well, he could be considered the best player in the world. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of performance, reputation gain, and recency bias in determining a player’s legacy.
