France coach Didier Deschamps has claimed that Kylian Mbappe is “even quicker” than Brazil legend Ronaldo and has tipped the teenager to “make a lot of progress” over the coming years.
The striker’s star has steadily risen since helping Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2016-17 campaign.
A nine-figure deal then saw Mbappe join Paris Saint-Germain and, after enjoying a sensational debut season under Unai Emery, the youngster has now taken his form to international level.
On Saturday, the 19-year-old scored twice as Les Bleus clinched an emphatic 4-3 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
When asked by reporters after the game about comparisons between Mbappe and Ronaldo, Deschamps replied: “Ronaldo was a forward player who was very, very quick. I think Kylian is even quicker.
“But this is somebody who was a world champion compared to a young player who has lots of ability and qualities. He is only 19 years old and he will make a lot of progress.”
Mbappe’s two-goal haul against Argentina has made him the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup match since Pele managed the feat against Sweden in the 1958 final.