Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland are all better strikers than Kylian Mbappe, according to Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez.
The Spanish tactician has snubbed Mbappe following the first round of Champions League group-stage fixtures, as Europe's finest strut their stuff on the biggest stage. On Tuesday, Mbappe scored both of Paris Saint-Germain's goals as they edged a 2-1 victory over Juventus in their opener, while Benzema limped off early during Real Madrid 's hard-fought 3-0 win away to Celtic.
As Haaland scored twice for Manchester City in a 4-0 romp against Sevilla, Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick for Xavi's Barcelona at home to Czech side Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday. It was after enjoying the prolific Pole's exceptional performance in the 5-1 drubbing that Xavi declared him one of the best three strikers on the planet.
"It's fantastic to have him in the team, I can't praise him enough. But it's not just the hat-trick, it's everything he does and what he brings," the Blaugrana manager said of Lewandowski. "Apart from the goals, he makes the team play, he understands when to press, he gives us many solutions in attack, how he communicates, he understands the game. The best? There's him, Benzema and also Haaland."
The favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or, Benzema fired Real Madrid to Champions League glory in May with a superb 15 goals in the competition, including two remarkable hat-tricks in successive games. However, the Frenchman could be out of action for next week's clash with RB Leipzig due to a recurring knee issue.
As for Haaland, he's fit and firing - just like Mbappe. The pair, 22 and 23 respectively, are beginning to be compared in a Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo -like debate. After they both netted twice in midweek, Thierry Henry gave his argument for why his fellow Frenchman, Mbappe, is the superior player.
"Mbappe can create and finish. Haaland doesn't create. He finishes," Arsenal legend Henry claimed on CBS Sports. "Mbappe can play on the right and on the left. He can play in the middle. Haaland can only play in the middle.
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"He is a magnificent player and with him they can win the Champions League last year. Against Real Madrid, if it was him at the end of those chances that they missed, they will have been focused on scoring one or two. For now, Mbappe is still my vote."
Ex- Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy agrees with Henry, stating his case on talkSPORT following Mbappe's dominant display against Juventus. "Mbappe, talk about another superstar. I'd pay money to watch that man," Murphy stated. "I'd have Mbappe over Haaland. I love Haaland but Mbappe has got this explosive dynamism, this individuality."
