In 10 years or so we will see the new generation fighting about who's better between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland and we might say something like, "You call this a rivalry?", in a smug fashion just like the previous generation did to us when we spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The only exception is, unlike the previous generation, we will actually be correct.

This is going to be a series with a relatively light topic. It does not intend to determine either Mbappe's or Haaland's career to be lesser than that of Messi and Cristiano, but rather a discussion about the rivalry itself and how it could never reach the heights that Cristiano Ronaldo reached. It doesn't say that Haaland or Mbappe will never be as good or maybe even better than either Cristiano or Messi, it's just about the rivalry.

It's Not Nostalgia

One of the things everyone in a previous generation is prone to be accused of when speaking about past footballers is nostalgia. It's an accusation based on the fact that some people believe that certain players are better just because of the way they made them feel growing up. However, as you will see by the end of this series, this is not the case here.

It is simply what I predict to be the truth despite all the expectations, predictions, and relentless media pressure to make this rivalry the new Messi vs Cristiano. My reasons also have nothing to do with statistics or trophies, so even if Haaland or Mbappe exceed Messi or Cristiano's numbers, it will remain to be the case. This actually less about numbers and more about obvious cliché.

There are six reasons behind my claim here, some will be more complicated than others. However, and as you will also see by the time the series concludes, it's actually a very good thing that the Haaland vs Mbappe rivalry won't be the next Messi vs Cristiano

1- The Lack of a Grey Area

Despite the difference between the roles Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi played in the second half of Cristiano Ronaldo's career, however, in the first half at least, both were very similar. Both of them were wingers, both were fast, both were technical skills, and both were goalscorers. Both of them were chance creators, at different degrees of course. What this says is that there is a foundation for the comparison, there is a grey area the pair existed in for at least a few years.

This grey area doesn't exist in the Mbappe vs Haaland debate. It's pretty clear what either player does, and more importantly, it's pretty clear how different it is. Mbappe is a winger who cuts inside while Haaland is a well-positioned technical and clinical striker. The only area they share exists in fantasy leagues, so just the numbers of assists and goals, however, the way they go about doing either is very different.

2- National Level

This grey area extends to the national level as well. There isn't a point in Cristiano Ronaldo's and Lionel Messi's international careers where the difference between Portugal and Argentina was as wide as it is between France and Norway. Argentina had an edge over Portugal in the early years while Portugal is easily a better national team at this point in terms of players' quality.

France is a favourite in every international competition it is in while Norway will consider it a success if it qualified for any international competition. The international level was a great source of food for the Messi vs Cristiano rivalry. In fact, most of the things you heard about Messi being a failure with Argentina stemmed from the 2010 World Cup.

This is a permanent thing that will exist in the Mbappe vs Haaland rivalry unless Norway has an army of top-quality 16-year-olds starting their professional career.

3- Stardom

This is a concept that is very complicated and interwoven. I personally don't know how to definitively define stardom. But, let's just attempt to dissect it step by step.

For starters, neither Mbappe nor Haaland has the mass appeal that Cristiano has. It is very difficult to duplicate Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of mass appeal. Cristiano's looks and physique are almost the definitions of handsomeness, power, strength, and charisma on a global level. He is almost every cool character you see on TV and in movies.

Cristiano is also a phenomenon that is difficult to repeat on social media as there is something that only happens with him in specific, let me explain.

For Instagram fame to become a financial success, celebrities need to find a perfect balance between regular posts and ads. Many celebrities resort to certain formulas to make it work. Formulas like 10 regular posts and one ad, or at most one ad every week. Cristiano doesn't need to do that. He could literally make three ads a day for a week and his engagement level will hardly be affected.

Financial success on Instagram requires your daily to become something epic like a TV show with your followers eagerly waiting for the next episode all the time. So, action, drama, tragedy, and whatever else. In the midst of all of that, you could have yourself an ad or two to make money. Pogba and Neymar are the greatest examples of that as they navigate that world with successful formulas.

Cristiano is again the exception to this rule. He could also promote products that only exist at the end of the world with his fans unable to buy or even find those products, and still, Cristiano Ronaldo's engagement level won't decrease, in fact, his number of followers and post engagements will only increase.

On the other hand, Haaland doesn't even care. Besides a few playful comments here or there, Haaland is just bland with his media appearances. So much so that many media personalities accused him of arrogance and being disrespectful, but that's how Haaland behaves. He doesn't want to talk, he doesn't want to do interviews and only answers the questions he is asked without any extra words. He doesn't have that showmanship style, even though that slightly changed when he joined Manchester City. Haaland is simply not the media's best friend.

Mbappe is better than Haaland at this, he has better branding, however, his social activity isn't really that active and barely exciting.

Haaland and Mbappe also haven't reached Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's level of stardom when the latter's ages were close to theirs due to the fact that they failed to build a strong fan base, but more on that in the next part.

Sources

How Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand partnerships influence customers - NewsWhip
'The Ronaldo Effect' - Can the CR7 brand stay relevant enough to help Saudi Arabia secure the 2030 World Cup? - Goal
Haaland is not rude or arrogant – just ask the man who did ‘that’ interview - The Athletic
How Haaland and Mbappe are using leverage in ways Messi and Ronaldo never did - ESPN
The Controversial Business of Kylian Mbappé - Athletic Interest