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Kylian Mbappe is using the 2022 World Cup to show he’s the best player in the world

The way Kylian Mbappe scored his second, and France’s third, against Poland in Les Blues’ round of 16 match at the 2022 World Cup was reflective of a player operating at the peak of his powers. It all looked so easy for the 23-year-old is breaking records almost every time he steps on the pitch in Qatar.

Mbappe has scored five goals in four games for France at the 2022 World Cup, but none were as emphatic as the top-corner strike he converted against Poland. The 23-year-old’s pace is his greatest asset, but in this instance he didn’t even need to beat his man for speed to find the back of the net as he arrowed a shot home from inside the box.

Lionel Messi has also been one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup so far, there is a sense his premiership at the top of the sport is coming to an end. The Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo era is over, as illustrated by Karim Benzema wining the Ballon d’Or this year, and Mbappe is currently showing why he’s at the vanguard of the next generation.

France entered the 2022 World Cup as defending champions having triumphed in Russia four years ago. There was, however, a belief that Didier Deschamps’ team had stagnated in the time since, as highlighted by their below par performance at Euro 2020, when they exited in the round of 16 to Switzerland, and in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.

Injuries to key players Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Benzema deepened the sense of malaise around France as they arrived in Qatar for the World Cup, but this forced Deschamps to evolve his team. That evolution has kept Les Blues fresh with Mbappe benefiting from the renewed energy around him. France are more entertaining to watch now than they have been in a long time.

Antoine Griezmann has been converted into a central midfielder with the 31-year-old’s drive and defensive instincts making him the perfect link between the unit in the centre of the pitch and the attack. Aurelien Tchouameni has also been integrated by Deschamps with Olivier Giroud the perfect partner for Mbappe in the final third. Their partnership is a strong one.

England will test France in Saturday’s quarter-final clash, but the 2018 champions have nothing to fear, not least because they have Mbappe. England are sometimes vulnerable to opposition forwards bursting in behind their defensive line and that will certainly be a threat against Les Blues – Harry Maguire should be worried about Mbappe’s pace, among other things.

A lot has been said and written about Mbappe’s character this year and the demands he has made at club level. There is, however, no denying his current level. Whatever has happened off the pitch over the last 12 months or so hasn’t affected the 23-year-old on the pitch. If anything, he is only getting better.

“He (Mbappe) speaks on the football pitch,” said France coach Deschamps after Mbappe’s stunning performance against Poland. “He knows that himself but he can change a match in just a moment. He is always playing with such joy. France needed a great Kylian Mbappe tonight and they got one.”

They will need a great Mbappe to win another World Cup and there are no signs the 23-year-old’s level is about to dip any time soon. The Messi-Ronaldo era might be coming to an end, but the sport has another generation-defining superstar ready to take their place and he is making the 2022 World Cup his own.

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