Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland: Rio Ferdinand Names Better Player

• The era of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe is gradually phasing out
• Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland look ready to take over for the next years
• Ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has named the better player between the duo

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are seen as football's next two superstars who will take the baton from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo dominated football for the past 15 years, allowing only two players other than them to win the Ballon d'Or - Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.

The two have departed Europe - Ronaldo now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while Messi is enjoying his football with MLS franchise Inter Miami.

The debate on who will be the greatest among the new superstars, Mbappe and Haaland, has already begun, and English pundit Rio Ferdinand is the latest to share his thoughts

Messi, Ronaldo will be missed in the Champions League, says former Chelsea star

Football

Ferdinand picks Mbappe over Haaland

Mbappe helped France win the 2018 World Cup as a teenager, while Haaland helped Manchester City to a historic treble in his first season in English football, scoring over 50 goals in all competitions.

Ferdinand's thoughts on talkSPORT, as quoted by Sportskeeda, centres around their skill sets and differences in individual games.

"Haaland had crazy numbers last year. I think when their careers are over, I think Haaland will be the more devastating goalscorer, but I think Mbappe will be the all-round better player," he said.

As reported by Marca, the France international has been advised to leave the French capital and join his dream club, Real Madrid, to boost his chances of winning the UEFA Champions League. PSG reached the final in 2020 but have not gotten past the quarter-final since then.

As noted by The Athletic, the two players could be united at Real Madrid in 2024 after reports that the Norwegian has a secret exit clause that will allow him to move to the Spanish capital in 2024.

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Football

The Manchester City striker is in contention to be the first of the pair to win the Ballon d'Or as he is set to battle it out with Messi at the end of October.

Haaland admires Messi's dribbling

Sports Brief reported on Haaland wanting one attribute in Messi ahead of their showdown for the coveted Ballon d'Or later next month.

The Manchester City star was asked to name any player and pick one attribute in them, and it was gracious for him to pick Messi and name his dribbling as one attribute he wanted.