Is Marcus Rashford in the same league as Kylian Mbappe

Marcus Rashford has been in sensational form this season and is being hailed in the same sentences as the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.

For all his misgivings, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done one thing right. The Norwegian has made Manchester United a one trick pony and they are very efficient at it.

The Red Devils are a proficient counter attacking team and this is pretty ingenious. They have a young squad that that can deliver. Anthony Martial has plenty of pace to offer but he is not the center piece of this team.

Marcus Rashford is.

Now in his fifth full season, the Red Devils youth academy graduate is the undoubted star. He has seen Romelu Lukaku come and go. Witnessed the sad decline of Alexis Sanchez. And taken in everything Zlatan Ibrahimovic had to offer.

The 2019/20 season has been the best we have seen of Rashford. The 22-year-old has come out of the shadows and become the prolific forward Jose Mourinho hoped he would become.

Solskjaer’s tactics are built around Rashford’s strengths. The 38-time capped England international is paying dividends with his form, scoring 19 goals and laying down 6 assists in all competitions.

The Crown Jewel

Naturally, comparisons are made with other forwards in his age group. Kylian Mbappe is the crown jewel of world football and Rashford is in the same mold.

Both forwards have searing pace in their arsenal. They can outrun any defender in world football.

Even if Usain Bolt was an accomplished defender, the Jamaican would have trouble shackling him. In addition, both like to play wide and come inside.

While, Mbappe’s career took an upturn from the get go, Rashford’s brilliance is just coming up. This is his breakthrough season in terms of efficiency in front of goal.

Overcoming Kylian Mbappe

However, in head to head fixtures, the Englishman trumps his French contemporary. PSG were left to rue their missed chances as Rashford and co. dumped them out of Champions League last year.

Moreover, in a less physical league, Mbappe is having injury issues. On the other hand, Rashford has managed over 47 league appearances in his last three completed seasons. He has 32 competitive appearances in the current campaign.

However, Rashford has yet to deliver for the national side. A feat Mbappe has already managed. And that too at the highest level.

This debate is only starting and will continue for coming years. There is one thing for certain, Marcus Rashford deserves to be hailed as one of the foremost young attackers in world football.