Kylian Mbappe vs Erling Haaland: Decade-long rivalry analysed ahead of World Cup showdown

But while both sides are stacked with talent, it's Mbappe and Haaland who will draw the biggest audiences for their fixture, having become the standout players of the modern game.

It is the closest thing football in 2026 has to the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry. Even that battle remains ongoing at the World Cup, with the duo scoring seven times between them.

Mbappe and Haaland have also been in sensational form in North America, scoring four goals each. As their maiden World Cup showdown looms, there's little to separate the pair.

But how has their rivalry played out to this point? GB News will take you through the past 10 years before crowning the true winner to this point.

2016/2017: Mbappe wins title with Monaco

In the 2016/17 season, Mbapped starred for Monaco, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists in 44 appearances as Leonardo Jardim's side stunned Paris Saint-Germain to win Ligue 1 and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Haaland, meanwhile, was still learning his trade at Bryne and Molde, registering four goals and one assist in 20 outings as Molde finished second in Norway.

Mbappe scored 22 more goals, delivered 13 more assists and won a major league title.

Winner: Mbappe.

2017/2018: Mbappe shines in first PSG season and wins World Cup

The gap remained sizeable in 2017/18.

Mbappe adapted seamlessly following his move to PSG, producing 21 goals and 15 assists in 44 matches as the Parisians completed a domestic treble of Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

Haaland, still at Molde, netted 16 times and supplied just one assist in 30 games.

Mbappe scored five more goals, recorded 14 more assists and lifted three trophies to none.

He also went on to win the World Cup with France, too. He electrified that tournament, etching his name into the history books with four goals as Les Bleus went all the way.

Winner: Mbappe.

2018/2019: Haaland announces himself

By 2018/19, Haaland had announced himself after joining Salzburg, helping the Austrian side win the Bundesliga with 17 goals and five assists from 31 appearances.

Mbappe, however, was becoming one of football's superstars, amassing 39 goals and 17 assists in only 43 matches as PSG retained Ligue 1.

Mbappe scored 22 more goals, made 12 more assists and remained the more complete player.

Winner: Mbappe.

2019/2020: Haaland joins Dortmund

The 2019/20 campaign represented Haaland's first genuine challenge.

Splitting the season between Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, the Norwegian amassed a remarkable 44 goals and 10 assists in 40 matches, winning the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup before moving to Germany.

Mbappe still managed 30 goals and 18 assists in 37 games as PSG won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, while also reaching the Champions League final.

Haaland outscored Mbappe by 14 goals, but Mbappe produced eight more assists and won three major honours compared with his rival's two.

Winner: Mbappe, narrowly.

2020/2021: Haaland edges ahead

Haaland finally edges ahead in 2020/21.

At Dortmund, he struck 41 goals and added 12 assists in 41 appearances, helping the club lift the DFB-Pokal.

Mbappe posted almost identical numbers, scoring 42 and assisting 11 in 47 games, but PSG relinquished the Ligue 1 title despite winning the Coupe de France.

Mbappe had one extra goal, Haaland had one extra assist, but the Norwegian played fewer matches and his side finished higher domestically.

Winner: Haaland.

2021/2022: Mbappe produces sensational season

Mbappe reclaimed the initiative in 2021/22 with arguably the most complete season of his career.

The PSG forward accumulated 39 goals and an extraordinary 26 assists in 46 appearances as the French champions regained Ligue 1.

Haaland scored 29 goals and supplied eight assists in 30 matches for Dortmund but missed chunks of the campaign through injury and ended the year without silverware.

Mbappe had 10 more goals, 18 more assists and won the league title.

Winner: Mbappe.

2022/2023: Haaland wins treble with City

The pendulum swung emphatically back towards Haaland in 2022/23.

During his debut season at Manchester City, he produced 52 goals and nine assists in 51 matches as Pep Guardiola's side won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Mbappe's return of 41 goals and 10 assists in 43 games was exceptional, but PSG's Ligue 1 triumph simply could not compete with a historic treble.

Haaland scored 11 more goals, missed out by just one assist, and captured Europe's biggest prize.

Winner: Haaland.

2023/2024: Rivalry continues to heat up

Mbappe arguably had the better individual campaign in 2023/24.

In his final season at PSG, he scored 44 goals and contributed six assists in 48 matches, helping the club secure Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

Haaland finished with 38 goals and six assists in 45 appearances as City retained the Premier League crown.

Mbappe scored six more goals, matched Haaland's assist tally and collected an additional domestic trophy.

Winner: Mbappe.

2024/2025: Neither wins the league

Mbappe also comes out ahead in 2024/25.

After moving to Real Madrid, the Frenchman immediately adapted to Spanish football, scoring 47 goals and adding five assists in 49 appearances.

However, it wasn't enough to win the league with Barcelona prevailing instead.

Haaland managed 32 goals and 12 assists in 44 games for Manchester City, though they came second to Liverpool.

Haaland created seven more goals for teammates, but Mbappe outscored him by 15 goals, which makes him the victor on this occasion.

Winner: Mbappe.

2025/26: Duo dazzle but come up short again

For the 2025/26 club season, Mbappe recorded 43 goals and 6 assists in 48 appearances for Real Madrid, while Haaland produced 35 goals and 9 assists in 48 appearances for City.

Once again, neither man won the league.

Mbappe's Real endured a turbulent campaign, with Barcelona soaring to the title again.

And Arsenal edged City to the crown, ending their 22-year wait in the process.

Winner: Mbappe, just.

What about internationally?

Internationally, Mbappe still possesses the stronger legacy.

The France captain has 60 goals and 40 assists from 100 caps, won the 2018 World Cup and reached another final in 2022.

Haaland's scoring efficiency is extraordinary, 59 goals in only 52 appearances for Norway, but the absence of major tournament success counts against him. For now...

Winner: Mbappe.