Kylian Mbappe has been advised that he will always be well below Zinedine Zidane when it comes to comparison among all-time greats of French football. In an exclusive interview with GOAL, French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf revealed why trophies and goal-scoring records might just hold Kylian Mbappe back from joining French footballing immortals like Zinedine Zidane.

Record-breaker, but not an icon yet
Record-break

Mbappe won the World Cup at the tender age of 19 years old in 2018 and came close again to claiming it in 2022 with another final appearance, making history by scoring a spectacular hat trick against Argentina. However, France won the final by penalties but failed to reclaim the World Cup for the second time.

Now 27 years old, Mbappe is already Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading scorer with 235 goals and just two goals shy of France’s record goal-scorer Olivier Giroud. Since signing with Real Madrid in 2024, he has continued to produce elite-level stats and remains one of the faces for both club and country leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

Why Zidane Remains Untouchable

When asked whether Mbappé will be regarded as the greatest player for France, his assessment was very definite.

“No way. There is no comparison,” Leboeuf insisted. “Zidane is more than just an exceptional football player. Fans like to see him play, and they respect the kind of person he is. Even after his blunder in 2006, he is still loved in France.”

Leboeuf said that Zidane is actually a true icon for the sport along with Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa. However, the young star was criticized due to the controversies that surround him.

"He's a fantastic player and I am very proud of him," Leboeuf went on. "However, he has got to do much more on the park to make me go wow. He scores goals, of course, and it is good for Real Madrid to have him. But I want to see him assisting his team on several occasions whenever he loses possession of the ball."

Contemporary football versus full players

Leboeuf thinks that Mbappe is the epitome of contemporary football, where figures mean more than overall performances.

“In today’s game, the aim is all about goals, passes, and statistics,” he continued. “But I would like to see more participation. Players who contribute on the defensive and on the attacking front, such as Kroos, Busquets, Rodri, or Casemiro, are equally valuable, if not more,”

Ballon d'Or doubts

Mbappé came in third in the voting for the Ballon d’Or in 2023, although winning the prize has thus far proven elusive for him. Leboeuf questioned the point of the prize in general.

“I don’t like the Ballon d’Or. It’s a business,” he said. “It should be called MVP — most valuable player. Mbappe attracts fans to the stadium and TV sets, but it doesn’t mean that he’s the best in all aspects.”

Nevertheless, Leboeuf expressed that he still hopes Mbappe will one day win an award, although he warned that “there will be even more complete midfielders and team players who will make it tough for him.”

Final verdict It is not in question that Mbappe is up there in his peers in terms of being an amazing attacking player. But to be like Zidane in France, where Mbape wants to be remembered alongside Zidane, Leboeuf believes he has to do much better than he has been and contribute to his team in all ways, not only being an incredible goal-scorer.