Mbappé and Haaland, the battle of the giants
If we talk a lot about Lionel Messi, the duel in 2023 will also be between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Without forgetting Vinicius and Neymar. It promises…
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
His eight goals in Qatar confirmed, as we already know, that he belongs to the extraordinary breed of player. And if he missed his chance to become even more legendary by winning a second World Cup, after his incredible final, he will not miss a 2023 cut to size with his first Champions League conquest, and his first Ballon d’Or. d’Or in his eyes. Thanks to, or despite, Messi’s presence by his side?
He can do it : win the L1, win the Champions League, win the Ballon d’Or
He will : win L1, win Champions League, qualify the Blues for Euro 2024
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Absent in Qatar, Viking will have time to recharge its batteries for a 2023 attack with the passion that has been his trademark since his debut, aged 17, with Molde FK, in Norway. Prior to letting his City teammates go to the World Cup without him, his efficiency was still astonishing (29 goals in 30 games, leading the Premier League scoring charts with 18 goals), to establish himself, at just 22 years, as the only striker to have able to compete with Mbappé from time to time.
2023 should allow him to complete a list of winners who are still untouched by any major title, other than the German Cup. On the condition of holding off Arsenal’s terrific comeback in the Premier League, and overcoming the first hurdle to the Istanbul final, against RB Leipzig in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
He can do it : won the Champions League, Premier League and became the top scorer in the English league, won his first Ballon d’Or
He will : finish top scorer in Premier League and win Cup
Vinicius (Real Madrid)
The way he digests his first World Cup failure, which followed a 2022 marked by a Champions League double and 8th place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, will tell us a lot about his mental density. and the ability to wake up. There will be plenty of deadlines in 2023 with Merengues to make him forget about Qatar… starting February with a tough game against Liverpool.
He can do it : win La Liga, Champions League
He will : finishing behind Barca in La Liga…
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Devastated by a missed penalty against France in the World Cup quarter-finals, the England captain will have no time to mourn his fate with Spurs struggling at the top of the Premier League, and the prospect of taking another quarter, that of the Champions League, on the condition of leaving AC Milan. The quest for a fourth Premier League top-scoring crown is still within reach even if Haaland takes off at half-time…
He can do it : win the Champions League, be the top scorer in the Premier League, win the Cup
He will : qualify Spurs for the next edition of the Champions League
Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)
The man with three lungs revealed himself to himself and the eyes of the world during the XXL World Cup where he proved that he could hope to thrive at Europe’s best clubs. In four seasons in Italy, Verona and Fiorentina, his performances with the Atlas Lions propelled him towards a fourth championship. After the Eredivisie (Utrecht and Feyenoord), Jupiler Pro Liga (Club Burges), and Serie A, La Liga (Atlético Madrid) or Premier League (Liverpool) reached out to him.
He can do it : win the Europa League Conference
He will : into the Champions League club
Neymar (PSG)
2023 will be a very important year for a Brazilian who arrives, at the age of 30, at a crossroads. In a team where the presence of Mbappé, Messi and Hakimi will remind him of the tears of Qatar, he has a choice. Either relaunch to seek another goddamn competition after his hard-fought run, the Champions League, or settle for shining in the L1, which he does regularly without pushing his talent too hard. On this choice will depend the mark he will leave in football history far beyond his technical Arabic and his flashes with the ball at his feet.
He can do it : win the L1, win the Champions League
He will : win the L1, win the Champions League
Bernardo Silva (Man City)
Failing to win a title with the Seleçao, the excellent Portugal international has no other choice but to refer to The Citizens to enrich a list where only the Champions League is missing. If RB Leipzig is not a problem for Guardiola’s players in the round of 16, in the league it will be more difficult to catch up to Arsenal. Easier to get a second Cup… before going to Spain to conquer a 4th championship (after the NOS League, Ligue 1 and Premier League)?
He can do it : win the Champions League, win the Premier League, win the Cup
He will : won the Cup
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Marred by an undeserved final of a new dimension taken at the heart of the Blues game, his third World Cup would be extraordinary, likely to revive him fully with Atlético Madrid. Even if the stakes will be lower in 2023 for the Colchoneros, Grizou has Euro 2024 to prepare to close out the round with the Blues.
He can do it : win the Spanish Cup, win the Ballon d’Or
He will : win the Spanish Cup, qualify the Blues for Euro 2024
Frankie De Jong (FC Barcelona)
Winning his first La Liga, four years after his arrival at Barça, will allow him to restore the image of the Blaugranas and also take personal steps. After a World Cup where he maintained his ranking amidst the Oranges, he will have a chance in 2023 to seal a return to the Netherlands forward with the Nations League to win at home to Croatia, Spain and Italy. We expect a lot from him…
He can do it : win La Liga, win Europa League, win Nations League -He will: won the League and Nations League
Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
We know him as an individualist, brilliant on the ball, sometimes brilliant on the right to make his left-handedness speak, we find him altruistic, capable of significant defensive efforts and of collective service. For him, like so many Atlas Lions, there will be before and after Qatar 2022. Back at Chelsea, there’s no doubt that Graham Potter will be even more demanding with him. What allowed him to cross the threshold?
He can do it : win the Champions League, win the Cup
He will : Finishing in the top 5 of the Premier League
