Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are emerging as two of the world’s finest young players, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the pinnacle of the sport.

Erling Haaland has acknowledged that he doesn’t view Kylian Mbappe as a rival, even though both young stars are stepping into the shoes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Haaland, aged 23, and Mbappe, aged 24, are among the contenders for the Ballon d’Or award, marking a shift away from the era of Ronaldo, who hasn’t been included for the first time in 20 years due to his advancing age. The 38-year-old Ronaldo is now in the later stages of his career, playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while players like Haaland and Mbappe have emerged as the most exciting talents in the world.

Messi, aged 36, is a few years younger than his long-time rival Ronaldo but is also in the twilight of his career, currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). Despite his age, Messi is the clear favorite to win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time, largely due to his outstanding performance in Argentina’s World Cup victory in December.

In an interview with France Football, Haaland was asked whether he sees a future rivalry between him and Mbappe, potentially succeeding the Messi vs. Ronaldo era.

“That’s what everyone thinks, but you have to emphasize just how incredible the things Messi and Cristiano have achieved,” Haaland responded. “You also have to remember that they are still performing at a high level, even as they get older. They are still fantastic players.

“But I never view myself in competition with other players; it’s not my perspective. I focus on my own development, striving to improve every day, continuing to enjoy what I do, and becoming the best version of myself.”

Although Haaland may not win the Ballon d’Or on October 30 in Paris, he has already received numerous personal accolades for his exceptional 2022/23 season. Haaland was named the PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year during the summer.

These awards followed his remarkable feat of scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions for his club, breaking the Premier League’s single-season scoring record with 36 goals in 35 matches. Haaland’s contributions played a pivotal role in his club’s historic Treble win, securing the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.

In contrast, despite Mbappe’s Ligue 1 title win with Paris Saint-Germain, the team once again fell short in the Champions League. This disappointment prompted significant changes at PSG, with Messi and Neymar departing and new manager Luis Enrique adopting a youth-focused approach.