Is Kylian Mbappé Already the GOAT? Not So Fast, Says Messi’s Record

The Unbeatable Feat of Lionel Messi

For all of Mbappé’s blistering pace, he still can’t outrun the ghost of Lionel Messi. Robert Lewandowski, the goal-scoring robot from Bayern, reached 60 goals in a ridiculous 85 matches, making Mbappé’s 89 look a tad less superhuman. But even Lewandowski has to bow to the king.

Lionel Messi hit 60 Champions League goals in just 80 games. Let that sink in. Eighty. That’s nine fewer matches than Mbappé. It’s a record that feels less like a statistic and more like a typo. While Mbappé is busy shattering records for his generation, he’s still chasing a benchmark set by a player who redefined what was possible.

It’s the ultimate “hold my beer” moment in football history. For every young star who rises, Messi’s records serve as a cold, hard reminder of the mountain they still have to climb. It’s not just about scoring goals; it’s about the relentless, almost casual, dominance that Messi displayed year after year.

Can Mbappé Still Claim the Throne?

Of course, he can. At his age, Mbappé is on a trajectory that could see him break nearly every record in the book. Cristiano Ronaldo currently sits atop the all-time Champions League scoring chart with an eye-watering 140 goals. With Ronaldo likely done with the competition, that record is, for the first time, looking vulnerable.

Lewandowski, with 105 goals, is the closest active player, but time isn’t on his side. Mbappé, on the other hand, has years ahead of him. He is the heir apparent, the one player with the talent, drive, and high-profile team to make a serious run at that number.

But becoming the GOAT isn’t just about topping a leaderboard. It’s about the moments, the magic, and the aura. It’s about being so good for so long that people run out of superlatives. Mbappé is on his way, and his performance against Kairat was just another step. Joining Ronaldo Nazario, Benzema, and CR7 as the only Real Madrid players to score an away hat-trick in the Champions League is a legendary achievement in itself.

So, while we celebrate Mbappé’s latest milestone, let’s keep it in perspective. He’s an electrifying talent, a future Ballon d’Or winner, and a player who will define the next decade of football. But he’s not Lionel Messi. Not yet, anyway. The chase is on.