Even though he is France’s all-time top scorer, Franck Leboeuf does not believe that will be enough to put Kylian Mbappé on the same level as Zinedine Zidane.
Leboeuf, the World Cup-winning center-back, sees no one at the height Zidane reached when he led France to their first World Cup. According to the French defender, even as France’s record goalscorer, Mbappé cannot yet match the stature of his predecessor.
In an interview with Goal.com, Leboeuf spoke about Zidane, Mbappé, the Ballon d’Or, and more.
Mbappé won the World Cup in 2018 while still a teenager and guided his team to the final again in Qatar four years later. In the title clash against Argentina, he made history with a hat-trick but lost in the tiebreaker, shattering his dream of lifting the trophy.
Mbappé is PSG’s most successful goalscorer, netting 235 goals across all competitions for the club. Now shining at Real Madrid, he trails only Olivier Giroud (57) in goals for the French national team, needing just three more to surpass him.
Asked whether the 27-year-old forward could be considered France’s greatest ever, Leboeuf said that no one currently compares to Zidane.
“Absolutely not. He (Mbappé) is not comparable to him. It’s hard to compare players from different eras. But Zidane had extraordinary ability, and even after becoming such a great player, his behavior—especially after his mistake in 2006—earned him admiration. There are some controversies in Mbappé’s personal life that have upset some people in France.”
“The level Zidane reached, Mbappé will never reach it—probably no one will. In his time, Michel Platini was the best, before him there was Raymond Kopa. These players are icons. We will only be able to judge whether Mbappé belongs in the same category once his career is over.”
Leboeuf is impressed by Mbappé’s performances but does not see him among the greats yet.
“Mbappé is a fantastic player. Definitely an extraordinary player and a smart person. I am proud of him. But to make me think ‘Wow, what a player,’ he needs to work even harder on the pitch.
“He is an excellent finisher. This season he scores almost every match, and Real is lucky to have him. But he needs to do more. For example, after losing the ball, he should track back a bit and show he wants to help his teammates. In modern football, statistics matter—you count goals, assists, distance run. For me, Mbappé is the best example of modern football. I am not used to this style, so I want even more from him.”
