Eto’o backs Mbappe to take over from Messi as world’s best

Samuel Eto’o believes Kylian Mbappe will take over from Lionel Messi as the world’s best player.

With Messi turning 33 this summer and Cristiano Ronaldo now 35 years old, many football fans have been wondering who will take up the mantle from the world’s two best players.

Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe is still only 21 and Eto’o believes his former Barcelona team-mate has the Frenchman breathing down his neck. ‘The best current players? I’d have to go with Lionel Messi, who’s more experienced, and Kylian Mbappe, who’s the youngster making the biggest impression,’ he said during a Instagram live with Generation Amazing.

‘I think he’s going to be the chief global star in the years to come.’  Eto’o only retired from playing last September and the Cameroon legend was quizzed about who he felt was the best striker of all time.

‘The best of all was Ronaldo, ‘O Fenomeno’,’ Eto’o said. ‘I have such great respect and admiration for him. Then there are a lot of us who come up behind him, and I’d include myself among them.’

read also; Eto’o names Yaya Toure as his best teammate, aside Messi

‘These players are now getting to an end – Ronaldo and Messi. ‘It’s now about the next generation and the next generation may be French. At the moment, the leader could be Mbappe. Of course Neymar, we know. ‘But England I believe has a good chance. Now they are doing very well at the youth level. ‘They have done well with Gareth Southgate at the World Cup. I was hoping at the European Championship they would be one of the contenders.’