Mbappe and Kane break out

Mbappe - Ảnh 1. — Mbappe (left) and Kane are the two best players this season - Photo: REUTERS

The six names mentioned above were the top candidates for the Golden Ball race last year. But the race order seems to have changed completely in just a few months.

Why cross out Haaland - Vitinha?

Last season was not Haaland's season, so he was not mentioned. Meanwhile, Vitinha was too quiet and only rose thanks to a series of titles PSG reaped at the end of the season. In the current season, Vitinha is still quiet like that. It is very difficult for a player like him to compete for the Golden Ball, even when PSG plays consistently.

Meanwhile, Haaland has regained his image as a humble, progressive and dedicated star on the pitch. The Norwegian superstar has scored a total of 24 goals for both the national team and the club, since the end of August until now. That means Haaland scores 12 goals per month. If he maintains his current performance, Haaland will have more than 100 goals by the end of this season.

But Haaland is the opposite of Vitinha - who has won every collective title for PSG and Portugal (winning the UEFA Nations League last summer). By next summer, Portugal will still be the top candidate for the World Cup, and Vitinha is ready to win every collective title. But unfortunately, he is hardly the most outstanding person in the group.

Haaland, on the other hand, is a standout in a team that is not highly regarded. Man City still seem to have not overcome their decline. Their having to actively play defensively against Arsenal is a typical example.

It is very difficult for such a team to aim to win the Champions League or even the Premier League. And in the Norwegian national team, Haaland is clearly only a "dark horse" at the World Cup.

Mbappe, Kane have it all

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane have it all, from individual prominence to collective strength. If Haaland has 24 goals, Mbappe has also scored 19 times since the beginning of the season for both club and national team.

And no matter what shirt Mbappe plays for, the team he plays for aims to win every tournament. Similarly, Harry Kane has a scoring efficiency equal to Haaland's, and is burning with ambition to win major tournaments with Bayern Munich and the England team.

More importantly, the "story" factor. Mbappe and Kane are creating extraordinary evolutionary journeys in football.

Real Madrid's recent 'El Clasico' victory over Barca was a symbolic victory for the individual race. Before the match, Yamal was the center of attention with countless media-attracting factors - from arrogant statements to noisy personal life. In contrast, Mbappe almost stayed out of all the controversy, from before to after the match.

Carvajal got into a fight. Courtois and Bellingham got into a scuffle. Vinicius even got into a fight with coach Xabi Alonso. Only Mbappe kept his cool. For the past year, Mbappe has always been "cool". He no longer shows his arrogant ego, no longer acts impulsively on the field, and is completely determined to act.

With that determination, Mbappe showed the football world the best version of himself ever. This evolution can be compared to when Messi changed from a dribbling, breaking role to "boss" of the attacking front. And when Ronaldo changed from a player with great speed to a complete striker.

As for Harry Kane, he has long since reached his limit. What Kane does not have is luck. But this season, the story may be different when Bayern Munich is full of enthusiasm. And Kane has become a symbol of the professional model of football.

It is very difficult for a 32-year-old player who has gone through more than 10 years of difficult football to maintain his peak performance. Kane's current endurance is similar to what Ronaldo - Messi have done in the past 5 years.

At this point of the season, Mbappe and Kane are the two best stars in football.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mbappe-va-kane-but-pha-20251029102643868.htm