Mbappe Salutes Pele After Winning Young Player Award

CHARLIE MALAM

Kylian Mbappe saluted Brazil legend Pele on Twitter as the two exchanged words following France’s World Cup win over Croatia.

The 19-year-old scored a stunning 25-yard effort as Les Bleus won 4-2 to claim their second ever triumph and their first since 1998. Mbappe’s goal saw him become only the second ever teenager to score in the final after three-time World Cup winner Pele, who did so way back in 1958.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward ended the tournament with four goals to win the FIFA Young Player having lit up Russia with several stand-out displays, particularly with a brace against Argentina.

And his performance prompted Pele, who some argue is the greatest football ever, to take to social media and honour the youngster.

Quote-tweeting Mbappe’s picture of him celebrating with the World Cup trophy, Pele – now 77 – joked: “If Kylian keeps equalling my records like this I may have to dust my boots off again…”

He also said: “Only the second teenager to have scored a goal in a #WorldCupFinal! Welcome to the club, @KMbappe – it’s great to have some company!”

And in the early hours of this morning, approximately 4am in Moscow, Mbappe replied: “The king will always remain king” accompanied by the crown emoji.

Mbappe – the second most expensive footballer ever at £166million – was asked about Pele in the aftermath of France’s win, replying: “Pele has marked history and I’m just here trying to forge my own path. I’m just trying to play the way I always did.

“Scoring and beating records is always good, but I’ve always worked towards this goal.

“I must continue, I have the ambition to go further, wherever my potential takes me.

“Winning a World Cup this young opens you lots of doors.”

Mbappe is widely expected to be the heir to the throne as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s owners wane with the teenager predicted to become the future best player in the world. He has already been talked about in Ballon d’Or contention, having only broken on to the first-team scene in the second-half of the 2015-16 campaign.

A stunning 26-goal season, in his breakthrough year, followed to help Monaco to the Ligue 1 title before an initial loan that would eventually become a big-money move to PSG. In his first season in the French capital he supplied 21 goals and 16 assists in 46 appearances as PSG won all three domestic trophies at a canter.

His form has seen him been linked with Real Madrid to replace Ronaldo, who joined Juventus last week. But Mbappe insists his focus is firmly fixed on continuing to impress with the French champions.

He declared: “ I’m happy in Paris and I have several years left on my contract. I’m staying at PSG 100 per cent.”