Leboeuf says Mbappe still trails Zidane in French football legacy debate
Kylian Mbappe’s remarkable career achievements have once again sparked debate about his place in French football history, but former World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf believes the Real Madrid forward still cannot be measured against Zinedine Zidane, regardless of future trophies or records.
Speaking after Mbappe’s continued rise at club and international level, Leboeuf was clear that even another World Cup triumph and France’s all time scoring record would not automatically elevate the 27 year old above the icons of previous generations.
Mbappe’s numbers are already extraordinary. He lifted the World Cup in 2018 as a teenager and followed it with a historic hat trick in the 2022 final, becoming the first player to achieve that feat in a World Cup showpiece, despite losing on penalties to Argentina. At club level, he left Paris Saint Germain as their greatest ever goalscorer with 235 goals, while closing in on Olivier Giroud’s France record of 57 international goals.
Those milestones explain why the conversation continues, particularly after Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in 2024, where he has maintained elite scoring output and immediately adapted to life as a Galactico at the Santiago Bernabeu. With another World Cup on the horizon in 2026, his opportunity to add further silverware remains very real.
However, context matters. Zidane’s influence extended beyond goals and trophies. His control of games, his leadership, and his bond with the French public shaped an era. Leboeuf argues that legacy in France is not purely statistical, pointing to figures like Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa as players whose impact transcended numbers.
Leboeuf also highlighted the importance of style and behavior, noting that Zidane’s presence and personality made him universally admired despite the controversial ending to his career in 2006. In contrast, Mbappe’s career has unfolded in a modern football environment defined by constant scrutiny, off field narratives, and a heavy focus on data driven evaluation.
On the pitch, Mbappe’s strengths are unquestioned. His finishing, pace, and consistency make him one of the most decisive attackers in the game, and Real Madrid have benefited from his ability to score in almost every match this season. Yet Leboeuf believes there are still areas that could elevate him further in the eyes of traditionalists.
He pointed to moments without the ball, defensive effort, and visible commitment to collective play as details that shape how greatness is remembered. For Leboeuf, modern football often reduces players to goals and assists, and Mbappe is the clearest symbol of that shift.
As Mbappe continues to chase records and titles with France and Real Madrid, the debate will only grow louder. Whether he can one day stand alongside Zidane in the pantheon of French football icons may ultimately depend not just on what he wins, but on how completely he defines games and eras over the remainder of his career.