This summer, Crickex App highlighted how Kylian Mbappé once again became the center of football’s biggest transfer drama. From his open letter declaring he wouldn’t extend with PSG, to being left out of the Ligue 1 opener, the storyline echoed last year’s saga — only with even more twists. As fate would have it, despite all the speculation, Mbappé remains at Parc des Princes. Just as the curtain falls on his latest act, Erling Haaland is capturing the spotlight in a very different way.
At the UEFA Champions League draw and award ceremony, Haaland was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, beating out Lionel Messi and teammate Kevin De Bruyne. It’s the first time the Norwegian striker has claimed this individual honor. On a personal level, Haaland secured the Premier League Golden Boot and the Champions League Golden Boot. At the club level, he was instrumental in Manchester City’s historic treble — winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, earning City its first-ever European crown.
The Ballon d’Or race now narrows down to Messi and Haaland. As Crickex App analysts note, Messi’s World Cup triumph gives him the edge, but Haaland isn’t out of the running. If he clinches his first Ballon d’Or, he’ll likely emerge as the face of the next great football rivalry. At the club level, Haaland currently holds the upper hand over Mbappé. The Premier League remains the most competitive and commercially influential league in the world, giving its stars higher exposure and more weight in accolades.
Haaland’s debut Premier League season was record-breaking, winning the title and top scorer honors. Mbappé, in contrast, continues to dominate a league where domestic success is expected rather than celebrated. PSG’s routine Ligue 1 titles don’t carry the same impact. With Messi and Neymar gone this summer, PSG has rebuilt its attack by bringing in World Cup breakout star Gonçalo Ramos and Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in. However, their Champions League group is nothing short of brutal, featuring Dortmund, AC Milan, and Newcastle — a true group of death.
This means even if PSG advance from the group, they’ll be worn down before the knockout stages. If Mbappé stays in Paris, his only path to overshadowing Haaland at club level is by winning the Champions League. As the saying goes, it’s a long road to glory. While Haaland dominates the club scene, Mbappé comfortably leads at the international level. Already the captain and star of the French national team, Mbappé put on a heroic display with a hat-trick in the World Cup final.
If France wins Euro 2024 in Germany next summer, Crickex App believes Mbappé could sweep every major award. Though carrying the weight alone, France remains the most stacked squad in Europe, and the upcoming tournament could be their shot at redemption. The battle for football’s next crown jewel is far from over — and it’s just getting started.