jasdooit

This has been a World Cup of superstars.

The leading five goal scorers are all well-known figures. Two of them have won the Ballon d’Or, while two others are in contention for the award this year.No unexpected names have appeared close to the Golden Boot competition..

Nevertheless, among all the superstars, it might be the right moment to acknowledge that Kylian Mbappe stands out above everyone else.

France is the only team at this competition that has shown steady performance. Although other teams have had good matches or moments, the French have not experienced a poor game. They have conceded just two goals throughout the tournament, none since the knockout stage started, and no team has scored more than the 16 goals that France has.

At the heart of the potential three-time consecutive finalists stands Mbappe.

Maybe not helped by being linked to the chaos at Real Madrid last season, Mbappe’s image as a ‘dictator’ has increased in recent months, and a seating plan of the Frenchman’s meals by Le Parisien indicates it’s not too distant from reality.

Seated at a huge table, the man at the front is Mbappe. Naturally, he is.

Mbappe could very well be the leader of France, but who can argue that he hasn’t rightfully earned the title? He has been France’s top star for eight years. Win one more game and he will reach his third final, tying the record held by Cafu, Lothar Matthaus, Ronaldo, and Pierre Littbarski.

Over the years, he has assumed greater responsibility within his national team. He serves as the captain, takes penalty kicks, and rises to the occasion in crucial moments.

He has netted a goal that influenced the outcome in five of France’s six matches in this tournament. He is sharing the lead with Messi as the top scorer this summer, but he is behind the Argentine by one goal in the all-time list, despite having played 11 fewer games.

He once more showed how resolute he can be against Morocco. After missing a penalty, his 15th out of 80 attempts, he scored the opening goal with a remarkable finish.

If you stop the game as Mbappe gains possession, you’ll notice he is surrounded by Moroccan players in a square formation, yet the ball remains within a few inches of him.

A single touch using the left foot to manage it, another with the right to push it forward, followed by a carefully bent effort that exactly navigated around the defender and then snuck back in at the far post.

It’s a display of top-tier ability that has determined the outcome of matches for France, a feat he has accomplished repeatedly.

If he keeps following this path, Mbappe is likely to be remembered as the greatest World Cup player of all time and is already being discussed as the finest French footballer to have ever played.

So, does anyone truly care if he is the team’s leader? No one can dispute that he has earned it.

By Sam Cooper

READ NEXT: 2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings: Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe Benefit from World Cup Performances…

TRY A QUIZ: Can you list all players who have scored 10 or more goals in the World Cup?