Mbappe, Zidane, and the GOAT Debate: Why French Fans Aren't Rushing to Crown Mbappe Yet

Can Mbappe Ever Surpass Zidane?

Frenchman Frank Leboeuf, the former Chelsea defender, rejects comparing Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid's current star, to French football legend Zinedine Zidane.

Neither World Cup glory nor France's all-time scoring record buys Mbappe immunity from being weighed against the two icons.

When asked whether Mbappe could be considered the greatest French footballer of all time, Leboeuf replied: 'Definitely not... it's hard to compare careers and eras.'

He added: 'What sets Zidane apart, beyond sheer greatness, is his character— even with his 2006 mistakes — which makes him beloved by fans. Mbappe has faced private controversies that have stirred anger among some French people.'

He continued: 'Mbappe will never reach Zidane's level, and perhaps no one will. Michel Platini in the same era, and Raymond Kopa before him, are icons. We'll only know at the end of his career whether Mbappe can be considered of the same caliber.'

Leboeuf: 'Kylian is a superb player—truly exceptional, and intelligent. I’m very proud of him, but he still needs to grow on the pitch before I shout, wow, what a player!'

He added: 'He is a striker like no other, Real Madrid is lucky to have him this season, he scores almost every game. Yet I still want more: when he loses the ball, he should drop a touch, just a touch, to show he wants to help his teammates.'

Leboeuf concluded: 'Right now, everything hinges on stats: goals, assists, distance covered. For me, Mbappe is the perfect model for modern football. I’m not part of that, so I’d like to see him develop further.'

Punchline 1: If GOAT debates had a soundtrack, Zidane's would be the violin—timeless and perfectly in tune with the crowd.

Punchline 2: Mbappe may sprint past defenders, but the GOAT question ages like fine wine—decades, not days.