Mbappe vs Haaland Our Decision
Many of the number ratios are eerily similar given the discrepancy in number of professional and national league games played. 6.48 vs 6.12 rating at the last World Cup. 7.68 vs 7.63 rating last season. 110.87 minutes played to goals scored vs 84.28. One is already the toast of the town and expected to dominate for at least another decade while the other is 2 years younger and only burst into the collective soccer consciousness just over a year ago but both Jim and I are already absolutely set in stone on who we would want to pick to start our soccer club and the name of that man is Erling Haaland.
Surprised? Why wouldn’t you be. Mbappe is faster and possesses more natural gifts than Haaland we can all agree to that. Except we can’t. There is ample evidence that Haaland is at least as fast as Mbappe and in fact is listed ahead of Mbappe on several ‘who is the fastest footballer’ lists. In a best case scenario then, they are at least – equally fast. Natural gifts? Haaland is 6 inches taller than Mbappe and given his superiority in minutes per goal scored, at least as gifted as a finisher.
However, it isn’t his record setting speed or natural gifts that separate him from Mbappe, but rather his intangibles. Like Mbappe, he is a fearless dribbler but unlike Mbappe, he is as pleased to set up his team mates as scoring it himself. He doesn’t want to be famous, he wants to win. And his superior feel for the game and more intuitive ability to know where he or the ball needs to be and when to be there provide a clear separation between he and Mbappe.
Like Neymar, it would seem that Mbappe loves the soccer lifestyle more than the game of soccer itself and in so doing, hasn’t really improved much in the 5 years he has been in Ligue 1. Haaland on the other hand is on an upward trajectory with none certain of his peak. And that’s exactly why Jim and I would take him before Mbappe. More of a quiet confidence and a burning desire to be the best and win the most.