Former France international and 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has said that Kylian Mbappe cannot yet be compared to Zinedine Zidane in discussions about the greatest player in the history of French football, Idman.Biz reports.
Leboeuf stressed that even a second World Cup title and becoming the all-time top scorer of the France national team would not automatically place Mbappe above Zidane in the hierarchy of French football icons.
“Definitely not. He cannot be compared to Zidane. It is difficult to compare different eras and careers, but Zidane was not only a great player, he was loved by the people. Even despite what happened in 2006, he was respected and admired. Mbappe has had some controversial moments in his personal life that caused a negative reaction among part of the French public. He will never catch up with Zidane, and probably no one ever will,” Leboeuf said in an interview with GOAL.
According to him, Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa also remain true icons of French football, and only at the end of Mbappe’s career will it be possible to objectively assess his place in history.
Leboeuf also noted that he respects the level of the Real Madrid forward but expects a greater contribution to the team’s overall play. “He is a brilliant finisher, and Real Madrid are very lucky to have him. But I would like to see a little more from him, for example, more work off the ball and more help for his teammates. Today football is too focused on statistics, and I want to see more of the game,” he added.
Leboeuf also commented on the Ballon d’Or, emphasizing that he does not attach much importance to the award. In his opinion, the key figures in modern football are versatile players who work at both ends of the pitch and help teams win, not just those who score a large number of goals.
At the same time, the former footballer admitted that he would like to see Mbappe win the Ballon d’Or, but stressed that to do so, the French forward will need to reach a new level and prove his versatility and overall influence on the team’s play.
