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George Weah has dismissed any comparison between Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, insisting that the French captain is ‘far superior’. The former Ballon d’Or winner shared high praise for Mbappe as France continue their pursuit of glory at the 2026 World Cup.

Weah praises the French star

Kylian Mbappe continues to be the centre of attention at the 2026 World Cup, and his stunning displays have drawn admiration from one of football’s most respected figures. Weah, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1995, attended France’s 3-0 win over Sweden at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Mbappe netted twice in a clinical performance that underlined his world-class quality.

Speaking to Spanish television programme El Chiringuito, the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain legend expressed his amazement at the 27-year-old’s abilities. “He’s a phenomenon,” said Weah. “He’s truly a very good player and a very good goalscorer.”

Weah insists Mbappe is ‘far superior’ to Yamal

While 18-year-old Lamine Yamal’s rapid rise has captured global attention, Weah was quick to dismiss any notion that the young Spaniard is yet on Mbappe’s level. Yamal recently claimed that France are “not better” than Spain, but the Liberian icon believes there is still a significant gap between the two players.

“Well, Lamine Yamal is just a young boy, as you know. You shouldn’t compare him to Mbappe,” Weah explained when asked to evaluate the two. “Mbappe is a phenomenon, while Lamine is still developing and learning. I just hope Lamine continues progressing in his career. But you can’t compare him to Mbappe. Everyone knows that Mbappe is far superior.”

Mbappe’s chase for the Golden Boot

Mbappe’s exceptional consistency is reflected in his position among the tournament’s top scorers. With six goals already in this edition of the World Cup, the France captain is locked in an intense race for the Golden Boot with Argentina’s legendary Lionel Messi. Against Sweden, Mbappe came close to a hat-trick, striking the post and having another goal ruled out for offside in a commanding individual performance.

Mbappe now has 18 goals across his World Cup career, leaving him just one behind Messi, who currently holds the record as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. As both stars continue to lead their respective teams deep into the competition, fans are witnessing a historic duel for the ultimate goalscoring accolade. For Weah, this relentless excellence is what sets world-class icons like Mbappe apart from promising young talents such as Yamal.

A potential showdown on the horizon

Spain and France appear to be on course for a possible semi-final clash, providing the perfect opportunity for Yamal to test his belief that the French side are not “impossible to beat.” For now, however, Mbappe remains the benchmark. Despite Real Madrid’s turbulent season, the forward’s international form remains razor-sharp, and with the backing of legends like Weah, the focus is on his rivals to prove they can rise to his level.