Kylian Mbappe is "a ridiculous footballer", but is he France's greatest-ever player?

Ahead of France's clash with Spain successful the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses a definite Kylian Mbappe and debates whether helium is France's top subordinate of each time.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "I deliberation it's a just shout"

It's an absorbing one. There was a akin statement successful the past England podcast astir Harry Kane. I think it's a just shout. 

A batch of radical will maybe resist that due to the fact that Mbappe does inactive get a batch of criticism, which does look unusual considering however good he's been. 

The players mentioned, Zidane and Platini. Lilian Thuram had a fantastic French career, didn't he? Thierry Henry too, idiosyncratic who had a batch of success. 

It's always hard to measurement the champion French subordinate by idiosyncratic success. Platini won 3 Ballon d'Ors, truthful helium was an unthinkable footballer for his era. 

Not idiosyncratic I was astir to watch, but a subordinate who commands a batch of respect. Zinedine Zidane was ever 1 of my favourite players. Can you ideate if helium was disposable now? 

You speech astir Elliot Anderson for £115m. If a premier Zidane came connected the marketplace now, what, £600m, £700m? 

For me, it's truly difficult. I don't want to beryllium connected the fence. I'd probably say if Mbappe does triumph the World Cup again this summer, you'd probably have to elevate him to fig 1 considering the success he's had... 20 goals successful 20 World Cup games is ridiculous. 

Poor aged Miroslav Klose probably thought his grounds would beryllium lasting for a portion longer, but Mbappe and Messi have basically said absolutely not at this World Cup, bulldozing their mode to the apical of the charts. 

The information that Mbappe's done it successful 3 World Cups, you fancy he's going to spell good clear. 

This has to beryllium similar Messi's past World Cup, but Mbappe's got what, 2 much maybe, oregon astatine slightest 1 depending connected what happens. You fancy he's got a mates much astatine least, considering his age. 

He's a ridiculous footballer who missed a punishment but scored a really wonderful goal aft that. He's having a large power connected the champion squad successful the tournament. 

I felt similar France were clear favourites at the commencement of the tournament, and I inactive consciousness that way. The bookmakers bash person them as the favourites. A batch of radical think it's going to beryllium a France-England final, according to the bookmakers. 

I bash deliberation it volition beryllium a France-England final. I deliberation France win it. It hurts saying that from an England constituent of view, but I think it's the champion squad with the champion player. 

Messi has had a fabulous time of it. But successful this infinitesimal successful time, I bash deliberation Mbappe is the elite subordinate successful satellite football. His 64 goals and 36 assists successful 104 games for France is ridiculous. 

He hasn't been a subordinate peculiarly known for his assists during his clip astatine Real Madrid. 

It's been a large disapproval of him that he doesn't particularly lend to wide play oregon mounting up teammates. 

But if you're going to beryllium hitting numbers similar helium is for Real Madrid and for France, and winning World Cups, the Ballon d'Or volition travel earlier the extremity of his career. 

At the infinitesimal I would similar to say top three, with Platini and Zidane. But if helium does triumph the World Cup again this summer, I deliberation you tin marque a really strong argument for him to spell consecutive to the apical of that list.