“Chase back a little!” – Kylian Mbappe told he cannot compare to Zinedine Zidane as France icon status debate reignites

Kylian Mbappe warned he still “cannot compare” to Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid forward is urged to do more to reach true icon status in France

Kylian Mbappe is already one of the most famous footballers on the planet. World Cup winner, record-breaking scorer, global superstar, Real Madrid Galactico. On paper, the CV is frighteningly strong. And yet, in France, the debate around greatness is far more emotional than statistical.

In an exclusive and brutally honest assessment, Frank Leboeuf has explained why, despite everything Mbappe has already achieved – and may still go on to achieve – comparisons with Zinedine Zidane remain premature, and perhaps unfair.

For Leboeuf, a man who lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1998, greatness in French football is not measured solely by goals, trophies or social media reach. It is about behaviour, connection, sacrifice, and an almost intangible bond with the public. On those terms, Mbappe, for all his brilliance, still has ground to cover.

Galactico numbers: World Cup winner and PSG’s greatest goalscorer

There is no denying Mbappe’s extraordinary output. He burst onto the global stage as a teenager, lighting up the 2018 World Cup in Russia with fearless pace and ruthless finishing. By the time France lifted the trophy, Mbappe was no longer a prodigy – he was a star.

Four years later, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he went even further. A hat-trick in the final against Argentina, on the grandest stage imaginable, should have crowned him king. Instead, football delivered its usual cruelty. Penalty shootout defeat. Lionel Messi celebrating. Mbappe left with the Golden Boot but not the trophy.

At club level, his numbers are just as staggering. With 235 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe became the club’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing names that once defined the project. In a team built around stars, he became the centre of gravity.

Now at Real Madrid, following his long-awaited move in 2024, Mbappe continues to score almost every week. The white shirt seems to suit him. The Bernabéu expects icons, and Mbappe delivers moments that feel worthy of the stage.

Statistically, his trajectory puts him on course to surpass almost everyone in French football history. Almost.

GOAT status: Why Mbappe cannot yet compare to Zinedine Zidane

Kylian Mbappe France 2025

When asked directly whether Mbappe could one day be considered the greatest French footballer of all time, Leboeuf did not hesitate.

“Definitely not. He cannot compare,” he said.

The words may sound harsh, but Leboeuf was careful to explain the reasoning. Comparing eras is difficult. Comparing roles is even harder. But Zidane’s legacy goes beyond technique or trophies.

“What Zizou was capable of doing, on top of being a great player, the way he behaved – people love him,” Leboeuf explained. “Even with the mistake in 2006, people still love him.”

Zidane is not remembered only for goals or assists. He is remembered for moments. For control. For grace. For silence when noise surrounded him. For delivering when France needed calm rather than chaos.

Leboeuf grouped Zidane with other untouchable figures in French football history: Michel Platini, Raymond Kopa. Players whose influence shaped generations, not just highlight reels.

“He will never catch where Zidane is,” Leboeuf said bluntly. “And probably nobody is going to catch him.”

Public perception, controversies and the weight of behaviour

One of the key differences, according to Leboeuf, lies off the pitch as much as on it. Mbappe has lived his career under an intense spotlight, and not all of it has been flattering.

“There have been controversies in his private life,” Leboeuf noted. “That brought some anger from some people in France.”

This is not about scandal in the tabloid sense. It is about perception. About how a player carries himself. About whether the public feels represented or distanced.

Zidane rarely spoke. Mbappe speaks often. Zidane seemed to absorb pressure. Mbappe sometimes pushes back against it.

Neither approach is right or wrong. But icon status in France has always favoured restraint, humility and collective identity.

“Chase back a little”: What Leboeuf still wants from Mbappe

Leboeuf was quick to stress that his critique does not diminish Mbappe’s quality.

“He’s a great player. Definitely a great player and a smart guy. I’m very proud of him,” he said.

But greatness, in Leboeuf’s eyes, demands more than finishing.

“I still need, from him, a little bit more,” he added. “When you lose the ball, for example, to chase back a little bit. Just a bit.”

It is a telling remark. In modern football, attackers are often judged almost exclusively by numbers. Goals, expected goals, assists. Mbappe excels in all of them.

But Leboeuf belongs to a different football culture – one that values effort without the ball, sacrifice for teammates, and visible commitment in difficult moments.

“For me, Kylian Mbappe is the best example of what modern-day football is right now,” he said. “I don’t belong to that, so I want to see more of him.”

Ballon d’Or debate: Why individual awards miss the point

Mbappe’s absence from the Ballon d’Or winner’s podium has often been framed as an injustice. With Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer dominating the vote, many expected Mbappe to inherit the crown.

Leboeuf, however, is unimpressed by the entire concept.

“I don’t like the Ballon d’Or, because for me it doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “It’s not the best player.”

In his view, the award confuses value with visibility.

“It should be called MVP – most valuable player,” Leboeuf argued. “It’s a business.”

He used a deliberately exaggerated example to make his point, joking that Mbappe would be “really bad at centre-back”, yet would still win votes because of goals and fame.

Why midfielders and ‘dirty work’ players matter more

Leboeuf’s argument went deeper. He named players he believes are more crucial to winning than any 40-goal striker.

Rodri. Busquets. Kroos. Kanté. Makelele. Casemiro.

“These players create the game and work in every position,” he said. “Without players like that, big teams don’t work.”

He even highlighted PSG’s current midfield, pointing to Vitinha and João Neves, and referenced Liverpool’s engine room with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.

For Leboeuf, Ballon d’Or conversations often ignore the players who actually make dominance possible.

Mbappe, Haaland and the ticking clock

Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 2025-26

Mbappe is not alone in this challenge. Erling Haaland faces similar questions. Both are prolific. Both are devastating. Both are judged relentlessly.

“They have to really go for it,” Leboeuf warned. “Because next season or the season after, it is going to be done.”

It is not a threat, but a reminder. Football moves fast. Legacies harden quickly.

Final thoughts: Great player, not yet an icon

Kylian Mbappe is already a legend in the making. But in France, legends and icons are not the same thing.

Icons are loved even when they fail. Icons belong to everyone. Icons sacrifice ego for memory.

Mbappe may yet reach that level. His story is not finished. Another World Cup. A Champions League triumph with Real Madrid. Years of consistency.

But as Frank Leboeuf made clear, greatness in French football is not only about how many goals you score.

Sometimes, it’s about chasing back a little.