Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are two of the most exciting young strikers in world football but who is a better player between them?
Both players have been tearing up the scoring charts in recent years, and it is difficult to say definitively who is the better player.
Kylian Mbappe has been a bit more prolific in front of goal, scoring 227 goals in 276 appearances for club and country. He is also a more complete player, with excellent dribbling skills and passing ability. However, he is not as physically imposing as Haaland, and he can sometimes be wasteful in front of goal.
Erling Haaland is a pure goal scorer, with an incredible ability to find the net from anywhere in the penalty area. He has scored 179 goals in 225 appearances for club and country, and he is still only 22 years old. However, he is not as good a dribbler or passer as Kylian Mbappe, and he can be a bit clumsy in possession.
Ultimately, the answer to the question of who is the better player depends on what you are looking for in a striker. If you want a player who can score goals in a variety of ways and contribute to the build-up play, then Mbappe is the better choice. If you want a player who is a pure goal scorer and can take defenders on one-on-one, then Erling Haaland is the better choice.
Here is a table comparing the two players’ stats in the 2021-22 season:
| Stat | Kylian Mbappe | Erling Haaland |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 227 | 179 |
| Matches played | 276 | 225 |
| Goals per game | 0.8 | 0.79 |
As you can see, the two players are very evenly matched in terms of their goalscoring output. Mbappe has a slight edge, but Haaland has played slightly fewer minutes.
It is still too early to say definitively who will be the better player in the long run. Both players have the potential to be all-time greats, and it will be interesting to see how they develop in the coming years.
