Erling Haaland v Kylian Mbappé: how the Norway and France hitmen match up

N orway v France is arguably the most talent-loaded fixture in the World Cup group stage. Transfermarkt’s combined estimated market value of the two squads is higher than for any of the other 71 matches in this phase of the tournament. Yet the vast majority of the attention at Boston Stadium will be focused on just two men: Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who are already in the leading pack to win the World Cup Golden Boot for top goalscorers, both scoring twice in each of their first two games. They are very different types of forward. The Norwegian is the ultimate penalty box player, capable of finding space in the most dangerous areas where none appears to exist. His French counterpart is far more comfortable dribbling from wide areas, completing as many take-ons in two games as the Manchester City man does all season. Despite their contrasting styles, they have delivered near-identical output in Europe’s big five leagues since Haaland made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020. The similarities in their headline numbers are uncanny. Mbappé has made one more league appearance in that time, spending just 11 additional minutes on the field. Haaland leads the goal tally by two, Mbappé takes the assist battle by five and Harry Kane is the only man ahead of either of them once those two metrics are combined (for what are known as goal contributions). The England striker has played over 1,700 minutes more too. …