Mbappe vs Haaland is the new debate in town after Ronaldo and Messi’s legendary rivalry… and amazing stats show why

FOR years football fans have been arguing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over who is the best in the world.

But after both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the Champions League last night, there seems to have been a changing of the guard.

9

9

9

With Ronaldo now 37 years old warming the Manchester United bench and Messi at 35, everyone knew the time was coming.

Now the debate is raging over who is the best in the world from Manchester City striker Haaland (22) or Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe (23).

And the stats show the pair are in a league of their own.

Haaland has scored a paltry 12 goals in his last seven games for City, while Mbappe has started the season with an equally impressive nine goals in six games.

While there is still work to be done to overtake Ronaldo and his five Ballon d’Ors and Messi and his seven Ballon d’Ors, Haaland and Mbappe are heading in the right direction.

Tormaschine Haaland scored an incredible 25 goals in just 20 games in the Champions League.

9

9

After the same number of games in the competition, Messi had scored eight times while Ronaldo was still on zero.

Mbappe, on the other hand, had 12 goals to his credit after 20 appearances in Europe’s elite competition.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – THE BEST DEALS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

With 25 Champions League goals aged 22 years and 47 days, Haaland broke the record set by Mbappe at 22 years and 80 days.

The Frenchman now has 35 goals and 20 assists in just 54 Champions League games, averaging a goal every 120.3 minutes in Europe.

However, Haaland is on a different level when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net.

9

9

On average, he scores an amazing goal every 61.3 minutes in the competition.

The pair also performs in their respective leagues week in and week out.

In 188 Ligue 1 games, Mbappe has netted 142 times, averaging a goal every 96.1 minutes.

But Haaland’s minutes-per-goal ratio in Europe’s top five leagues is even better.

In 73 games in the Bundesliga and Premier League he has scored 72 goals, averaging a goal every 81.5 minutes.

However, the City star is yet to reach Mbappe’s lofty heights on the silverware front.

Haaland has three trophies from his time in Germany and Austria with Borussia Dortmund and RB Salzburg.

But you would expect him to add to that tally with City this year.

Mbappe has now won 13 trophies at club level, plus the World Cup and Nations League with France.

As good as the stats are, neither Haaland nor Mbappe have enjoyed the individual success that Messi and Ronaldo enjoyed at this point in their careers.

Messi won the first of his SEVEN Ballon d’Ors when he was 22, Haaland is the same age now, while Ronaldo won the first of his five when he was 23, the same age Mbappe is now.

9

9