World Cup final star told to join Man United to reach Messi's level

Kylian Mbappe has been told to move from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United to reach the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 23-year-old will leave Qatar as the tournament’s top scorer and the first man to score a World Cup final hat-trick since Geoff Hurst in 1966. However, Mbappe also leaves the Gulf state without a winner's medal.

Instead the final will be remembered for Messi, who scored a brace and a penalty shoot-out spot-kick to help Argentina win their first World Cup since 1986, and claim the last piece of silverware that had alluded the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

While both players currently star for Ligue 1 heavyweights PSG, Messi made his name at Barcelona. Across two decades at the Catalan club, the Argentina international won a staggering 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies and 15 domestic cups.

Meanwhile, Messi netted some 627 goals for the La Liga giants.

Mbappe is on his own path to greatness having registered 190 goals and 93 assists from just 190 appearances for PSG.

However, United legend Wayne Rooney has claimed that if the France international wants to emulate the career of stars such as Messi and Ronaldo, he will need to leave the Ligue 1 side.

Mbappe to United?

Speaking to Sports 18 Rooney said: “I think [Mbappe] needs to leave that club and go to the Premier League.

“PSG is a massive club, but I think he’s done everything he can in the Ligue 1.

“Maybe a Manchester United or Real Madrid. If he needs to reach the level of Messi and Ronaldo I think he needs to join Manchester United or Real Madrid.”

While a move to United is unlikely given the Old Trafford club would likely need to pay a world-record fee and shatter their wage structure for the Frenchman, a transfer to Madrid has been touted for years.

The 23-year-old was expected to join Los Blancos on a free transfer last June, bringing an end to a years-long saga which had seen him become a top priority for president Florentino Perez.

Yet Mbappe's late change of heart saw the France international spurn Madrid and extend his deal at the Parc des Princes.

Topics: Football, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.