Kylian Mbappe’s emergence on a World Cup stage with France shows that “Gods are being born”, says Marcello Lippi, with the exits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being overplayed.
The two legendary figures of the modern era were expected to illuminate Russia 2018, in what could potentially be their last shot at securing global glory with their respective nations.
Argentina and Portugal were always unlikely to challenge, though, and even the presence of multiple Ballon d’Or winners was unable to inspire either past the last 16 stage.
It has been suggested that an iconic era is coming to a close, with fears raised to what will happen when Messi and Ronaldo bow out, but Lippi believes a new generation – led by Mbappe – is already coming to the fore.