Kylian Mbappe and Thierry Henry both attended France’s Clairefontaine academy before playing as left wingers at Monaco, and they both won French league titles as teenagers. Mbappe wants to replicate another one of Henry’s accomplishments — a World Cup title for France in his first tournament. Henry, 40, is France’s leading scorer with 51 goals, the 19-year-old Mbappe is Les Bleus’ new sensation, with three, matching Henry’s total from 1998 and 2006.
If Mbappe scores again, France plays Uruguay in Friday’s quarterfinal , he would become the first Frenchman since 1958 to score four at a World Cup since Just Fontaine’s record 13 over six games in 1958 . Henry and Mbappe both share the electric pace Fontaine had, but with a far more rounded game than their illustrious predecessor.
“I don’t really like to compare players from different generations, but they have a similar profile, with their speed and ability to beat players,” said France coach Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 champions. “I can only wish Kylian the same career as Thierry.”
Deschamps said that after Mbappe’s debut in a qualifier at Luxembourg in March 2017. He already was hailing Mbappe’s maturity. “His biggest strength is his composure when he’s through on the goalkeeper,” Deschamps said. “That’s very rare at his age, and it’s why he’s so efficient.”