{"id":1208340,"date":"2021-06-15T13:14:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T12:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1208340"},"modified":"2021-06-15T13:14:32","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T12:14:32","slug":"kylian-mbappe-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-gary-lineker","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/kylian-mbappe-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-gary-lineker\/","title":{"rendered":"Gary Lineker: Kylian Mbappe can emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, but not Lionel Messi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gary Lineker believes Kylian Mbappe can reach the heights of Cristiano Ronaldo but won’t be able to emulate Lionel Messi, who “can do things that others simply can’t”.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mbappe, 22, has already catapulted himself to superstardom and is currently one of Europe’s most gifted players, winning silverware aplenty in his native France, as well as lifting the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus<\/i>, in which he became only the second teenager, after Pele, to score in a final.<\/p>\n

Endowed with breakneck speed, elite ball control and an insatiable scoring appetite, Mbappe has all the attributes to stay at the top of the sport for the next decade, but former Barcelona forward Lineker does not believe the young Parisian can match the unprecedented feats of Messi.<\/p>\n\n

“Mbappe is already a global superstar who is most likely to jump in the shoes of Ronaldo, but not Messi – he can do things that others simply\u00a0can’t,” Lineker told\u00a0<\/span>Goal<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Talent-wise, there’s no question. It’s more about whether he has the same drive to sustain his career over 17, 19 years like the two of them (Ronaldo and Messi). It’s quite remarkable and it takes something special to do that.<\/p>\n

“Ability-wise, he could go on to do those things with big rumours about Real Madrid. Does he need to move on from PSG to realise his ambitions of greatness? Maybe, I don’t know, but I don’t think it will distract him from the tournament itself.”<\/p>\n

\"France<\/a>

READ MORE:<\/span> France v Germany: Betting tips for Euro 2020 Group F | Sky Bet Request<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

“I love Sancho and I think people will be surprised how good he is”<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lineker went on to discuss the players he feels could make a splash at Euro 2020, earmarking Jadon Sancho as a someone who could surprise one or two people.<\/p>\n

The Borussia Dortmund forward has impressed since trading Manchester City for the Ruhr Valley and is now a reported target of Manchester United.<\/p>\n

Despite making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the competition, the rising star was omitted altogether from his matchday squad for the Croatia opener.<\/p>\n