A legacy still in progress
Kylian Mbappé recently celebrated his 28th birthday and already has an impressive list of achievements under his belt. Most notably, he has become France’s all-time top scorer at just 28 years old. According to Jérémie Aliadière, a former France international and current football analyst, there’s still more to come for the young forward. He argued that it is too soon to make a definitive judgment on where Mbappé ranks among the likes of legends like Zinedine Zidane or Michel Platini.
Aliadière, speaking in an exclusive interview with Get French Football News, emphasized that the world tends to form strong opinions during moments of high drama. “The day that Kylian Mbappé retires, I think people will remember all the things he did,” he said. He suggested that the full scope of Mbappé’s impact will only be visible once his career comes to a close.
Comparing to the legends of the past
Aliadière pointed to Zidane as an example of how legacies can evolve over time. He reminded listeners of Zidane’s red card in the 2006 World Cup final and the handball incident that led to his dismissal, which many believe cost France the match. Yet, those negative moments often fade in the memory when Zidane is remembered for the 1998 World Cup triumph. “People retain the image of 1998,” Aliadière said. This, he explained, shows how the public tends to focus on the highlights and downplay the lows when discussing legendary players.
Aliadière also compared Mbappé to Michel Platini, though he noted that the comparison is not straightforward. “Zidane is the 1998 World Cup, Platini is Platini,” he said. He urged people to be patient and wait for a clearer picture of Mbappé’s place in history to emerge.
Aliadière highlighted that Mbappé already has a World Cup title to his name, winning in 2018 at just 18 years old. Now, at 28, he is France’s top scorer. “Imagine in four years all the records he will smash,” Aliadière said. He pointed out that the young star has the potential to break numerous French records in the coming years, further solidifying his status among the greats.
What still lies ahead
Aliadière insisted that the recent 2026 World Cup semi-final defeat should not be viewed as a sign that Mbappé has hit his limit. For Aliadière, Mbappé is already among the best. He added that the future holds even more potential for the forward. “Who says he won’t win the World Cup in four years?” he asked. Mbappé will be 31 by then, an age often considered ideal for a striker to reach peak performance.
Aliadière also mentioned the 2024 European Championship as a potential milestone. He believes Mbappé will not only be remembered for what he has already achieved but also for the future successes that are likely to follow.
The interview with Jérémie Aliadière was made possible through a collaboration with Betinia. Aliadière spoke exclusively to Get French Football News, offering his insights into where Kylian Mbappé stands among the legends of French football.