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Kylian Mbappe: France manager predicts star will be BETTER than Ronaldo
KYLIAN MBAPPE can be better than Brazil World Cup legend Ronaldo, insists Didier Deschamps.
Mbappe scored twice for France in their thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina today.
The victory sees Les Bleus move to the quarter-finals of Russia 2018, while Argentina head home.
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Mbappe, 19, became the first teenager since Michael Owen in 1998 to score two goals in a World Cup game.
And Deschamps reckons the PSG star can one day emulate Ronaldo, who was the superstar of the 1998 World Cup and won the trophy in 2002.
"Ronaldo was a forward player who was very, very quick. I think Kylian is even quicker,” Deschamps said.
Ronaldo was a forward player who was very, very quick. I think Kylian is even quicker
"But this is somebody who was a world champion compared to a young player who has lots of ability and qualities.
“He is only 19 years old and he will make a lot of progress."
Mbappe earned France’s penalty for the opening goal - converted by Antoine Griezmann - and turned the game with two goals in four second-half minutes.
And the player was delighted with his performance.
"I’m very happy and it’s flattering to be the second teenager [to score twice in a World Cup game] after Pele but let’s put things in context: Pele is another category, but it’s good to be among these people,” he said.
"As I’ve already and always said, at a World Cup you have all the top-level players, so it’s an opportunity to show what you can do and what your abilities are. There’s no better place than a World Cup."