Aliadière sees Mbappé destined to eclipse French legends

In an EXCLUSIVE interview, former Arsenal and France youth striker Jérémie Aliadière told Get French Football News that Kylian Mbappé will finish his career as the best French player of all time, citing his World Cup triumph at 18 and his record‑breaking goal tally.

The interview forms the fourth and final installment of a Get French Football News series that revisits the Bleus’ World Cup semi‑final loss and looks ahead to the France squad’s future. Aliadière reflects on how that defeat shaped the narrative around the team’s young stars.

He placed Mbappé alongside French legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Raymond Kopa and Antoine Griezmann. The former striker asked whether the semi‑final setback meant Mbappé still had work to do to join that elite group.

Before the semi‑final, discussions already centred on the golden boot and Mbappé’s record as the highest‑scoring World Cup player, achievements he secured regardless. Talk of a Ballon d’Or also featured, pondering if he could eclipse the aforementioned icons.

Aliadière noted that immediate reactions to the loss are driven by emotion, but perspective shifts as time passes. He believes that when Mbappé eventually retires, the full scope of his contributions will be recognised, much like Zidane’s 1998 heroics remain dominant in memory despite later controversies.

He reminded listeners that Mbappé already lifted a World Cup trophy in 2018 in Russia at just 18 years old. Now France’s record scorer, he will turn 28 in December, and Aliadière predicts a flood of national records in the coming four years.

Despite the recent disappointment, Aliadière insists Mbappé belongs on the same pedestal as Zidane and Platini. He even suggests Mbappé could win another World Cup at 31, with the European Championship arriving two years earlier, reinforcing his status among the best.

The interview was conducted exclusively for Get French Football News, courtesy of Betinia GFFN and Jeremy Smith. The exclusive format underscores the depth of insight offered by the former Arsenal forward.