This article was first published on 12 February
MONACO ARE THE best team in France right now and in Kylian Mbappé they have one of the most talented young players in Europe.
On Saturday, the club put five past a hapless Metz and 18-year-old Mbappé got three of them – his first ever Ligue 1 hat-trick.
It wasn’t his first hat-trick of the season, though. Back in December, he struck three times against Rennes in the Coupe de la Ligue.
The result ensured Monaco retained a three-point lead over PSG at the top of the table.
Mbappé has now hit seven goals in the top-flight this term and added a further five assists as his strike partnership with Radamel Falcao has worked perfectly.
The Colombian, who grabbed a brace last night, is now on 16 goals for the Ligue 1 season – behind only Edison Cavani and Alex Lacazette in the top-scorer standings.
But while the veteran is enjoying a golden autumn in his career, all eyes are on his younger team-mate.
Mbappé has been well-regarded for quite some time.
He was incredibly influential in Monaco winning the Youth Cup last May while, at the Under-19 European Championship, he scored five times as France claimed the title. He made his debut for Monaco’s senior team in December 2015 when he was just 16.
While coach Leo Jardim has wanted to use him sparingly throughout the season, Mbappe has now managed back-to-back 90 minutes, scoring four goals in those two games. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to leave him out of the starting XI.
Mbappe was born in 1998 – the same year France lifted the World Cup on home soil – and inevitable comparisons have been made between him and a key member of that side (and former Monaco prodigy), Thierry Henry.
Last week, the former Arsenal striker gave his opinion on the supremely-gifted youngster to RMC Sport. ”When I first saw him play against Tottenham in the Europa League, as soon as I saw him, I knew he was a player. I said: ‘who is he? At 16 and a half [years old], he was asking for the ball, he could dribble, he was having shots, he was winning the ball back and he loved the ball. The desire was there. Mbappé has something special, let’s be honest. If he keeps his head on his shoulders, it will come on its own.”
Arsenal tried to sign Mbappé last summer but the player wished to stay put. The Gunners will return at the end of the season with another offer, certainly, but there will be plenty of competition.
