‎'Chase Back a Bit!': Mbappé Told He Can't Match Zidane Yet as Real Madrid Star Urged to Do More for France Icon Status

‎Kylian Mbappé has been advised why comparisons with Zinedine Zidane in debates over the greatest French footballer of all time do not yet stand, following an exclusive interview with Frank Leboeuf conducted by GOAL. According to the former World Cup winner, even another World Cup triumph and becoming France’s all-time top scorer may still fall short of elevating the current Real Madrid star above the legendary status achieved by Zidane.

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‎Kylian Mbappé has been warned he cannot be compared to Zinedine Zidane as a French football great, with Frank Leboeuf insisting the Real Madrid forward must offer more on the pitch to reach true icon status.

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‎Galactico achievements and historic numbers

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‎Mbappé claimed a World Cup title in 2018 while still a teenager and followed that success by reaching a second consecutive final at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. He produced a historic hat-trick in the final but ultimately endured penalty shootout disappointment as Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, prevailed.

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‎Now 27, Mbappé has gone on to establish himself as Paris Saint-Germain’s most prolific scorer, finding the net 235 times for the club. On the international stage, he has moved to within two goals of Olivier Giroud’s record tally of 57 for France.

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‎The forward is expected to challenge for further major honours with both club and country in 2026, having maintained outstanding personal form since becoming the latest ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid following his move to the Santiago Bernabéu in 2024.

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‎GOAT debate: Can Mbappé ever surpass Zidane?

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‎When asked whether Mbappé could eventually be recognised as France’s greatest-ever player, Leboeuf — a member of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad — was unequivocal in his response while speaking in association with BetVictor Online Casino.

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‎“Definitely not. He cannot compare,” Leboeuf told GOAL. He acknowledged the difficulty of weighing different eras but stressed that Zidane’s influence extended beyond his technical brilliance to his behaviour and connection with supporters, despite mistakes late in his career at the 2006 World Cup. Leboeuf suggested that Mbappé’s off-field controversies have generated frustration among some fans in France, limiting his ability to reach the same revered standing.

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‎He added that Zidane, alongside figures such as Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa, belongs to a group of untouchable icons. Only at the conclusion of Mbappé’s career, Leboeuf believes, can any meaningful comparison be made.

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‎While praising Mbappé as an outstanding and intelligent footballer, Leboeuf insisted there is still room for improvement. He highlighted the forward’s elite finishing ability and noted how fortunate Real Madrid are to have a player who scores in almost every match. However, he also called for greater effort without the ball, urging Mbappé to track back more often and visibly support his teammates.

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‎Leboeuf argued that modern football places excessive emphasis on statistics such as goals, passes and runs, describing Mbappé as the perfect representation of today’s game. From his perspective, that approach leaves him wanting to see more all-round contribution from the French star.

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‎Ballon d’Or ambitions and obstacles

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‎Mbappé’s hopes of winning the Ballon d’Or will require another step up in performance, with his third-place finish in 2023 remaining his best result so far. Although Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are no longer contesting the award, other players have still managed to finish ahead of him.

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‎Leboeuf questioned the true value of the Ballon d’Or, arguing that it does not accurately reflect who the best player in the world really is. He suggested the award should instead recognise the most valuable player, noting that attackers like Mbappé generate global interest, television audiences and stadium attendance.

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‎Despite his criticism of the prize, Leboeuf expressed a strong desire to see Mbappé win it, describing him as an exceptional talent. He pointed out, however, that recent winners and contenders tend to be players who contribute across all areas of the pitch and play central roles in successful teams.

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‎Leboeuf referenced midfielders and defensive specialists such as Rodri, Sergio Busquets, Toni Kroos, N’Golo Kanté, Declan Rice, Claude Makélélé and Casemiro as examples of complete players whose influence is often greater than that of prolific goal scorers. He also highlighted the importance of players like Vitinha and João Neves at Paris Saint-Germain, Jordan Henderson at Liverpool, and Alexis Mac Allister’s impact last season alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

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‎According to Leboeuf, such all-action players are often more vital to top teams than strikers who score 40 goals a season. He warned that it will be increasingly difficult for forwards like Mbappé and Erling Haaland to claim individual honours unless they fully embrace that broader responsibility, suggesting their window of opportunity may be limited to the next couple of seasons.

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‎World’s best battle with Haaland and others

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‎Mbappé and Haaland are both delivering remarkable goal returns this season at Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively. While each will hope to have more chances to compete for the Ballon d’Or, Leboeuf’s comments underline the growing importance of collective success and complete performances over individual statistics in the race to be regarded as the best player in world football.