Alan Shearer has hailed Kylian Mbappe as the best player in the world as the attacker continues to star for France at the World Cup.
Mbappe has already scored three goals and notched one assist in his two games at the tournament so far. His performances helped France to become the first team to qualify for the knockout stages, with the Paris Saint-Germain star particularly crucial against Denmark.
His rise since bursting onto the scene at the 2018 World Cup has been phenomenal, with the 23-year-old now clearly France's main man. And Shearer also believes Mbappe has pulled ahead when considering who is the world's best footballer.
The likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland may be viewed by some as fitting that badge of honour. But Shearer has now insisted it is Mbappe who deserves the crown following his performances so far this winter.
"I consider it a privilege to be able to watch Kylian Mbappe up close. As far as I’m concerned, he is the complete package as a goalscorer, and he has arrived in Qatar on top form," Shearer told The Athletic.
"Part of me thinks we would have enjoyed playing together - anyone who can put in a cross like the one Mbappe delivered for Olivier Giroud against Australia a week ago would have been popular with me.
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"But I also appreciate the fact that he relishes being the main man. He’s a complete goalscorer with a sprinter’s build and no technical weaknesses. He’s the best in the world right now, was a World Cup winner at 19.
"And [he] is the main reason why France have a live chance of lifting the trophy again in Qatar in just under three weeks’ time, despite missing the spine of a team through injury."
France boss Didier Deschamps also hailed his superstar attacker in the aftermath of the win over Denmark. And he branded Mbappe as an "exceptional" player who has become one of Les Bleus main leaders.
"What can I say about Kylian? I've said it time and time again. He is decisive and makes a difference. He is an exceptional player in an exceptional team," Deschamps said of Mbappe.
"There are two types of leadership - physical and mental - and Kylian is a leader. Kylian doesn't speak, he's not very talkative, but he's like a steam train on the pitch and gets the crowd going.
"He knows from the get-go that the French team needs him and he needs to be at his best. We now have peace of mind going into the third game because we are in the round of 16. Hopefully we are going to finish top of the table.
"I'm not going to take any risks. That is the advantage when you win your first two games, you can take your foot off the gas. Let's not get carried away, but the players work well as a team and we have a great spirit on and off the pitch."
