When you take a look at who the biggest modern-day footballing superstars are, it's hard to ignore Kylian Mbappe at the very top of that list. The 25-year-old has been at the forefront of the game ever since he was a teenager, breaking records and putting himself in Ballon d'Or contention for close to a decade already.
From lifting the World Cup at 19 to winning countless honours at Paris Saint-Germain prior to becoming the latest Galactico, Mbappe has turned himself into an idol for many with his blistering pace and exceptional skill. For this generation, he is probably a first-ballot inclusion in any all-time XI that they have ever seen.
However, back in 2017, the question was posed to Mbappe himself as to who he would include in his greatest starting eleven in history. Thanks to the interview he did with Foot Mercato, via Metro, we know the answer. With as many as four former teammates included, the Frenchman's side might be very attack-heavy, but it would certainly cause any of Europe's greatest ever teams plenty of problems.
Kylian Mbappe's All-Time XI
GK
DEF
DEF
DEF
DEF
MID
MID
FWD
FWD
FWD
FWD
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Goalkeeper and Defence
Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos
Given that the midfield onwards boasts an incredible array of attacking talent, Mbappe had to pick a strong enough defence to let the attackers off the leash. Thankfully, he has managed to do just that, starting with Gianluigi Buffon in between the sticks. The Italian icon briefly joined Mbappe at PSG but is better remembered for his incredible domination with Juventus and his heroics en route to a World Cup triumph with Gli Azzurri. He remains one of the greatest players to never win the Champions League.
Either flank is propped up by Brazilian royalty in the form of Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Both men were pivotal in their country's last World Cup triumph over 20 years ago but also found great success for AC Milan and Real Madrid, respectively. They are joined in the middle by another one of Mbappe's former teammates, Sergio Ramos, and arguably the greatest one-club man in football history - that being Paolo Maldini.
Ramos is best known for his domineering years in the Spanish capital but did have a brief stint in Paris with Mbappe. Maldini also slots in centrally, where he played in the latter stages of his career despite being more of a left-back in his prime.
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Midfield
Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho
Imagine this duo running things in the middle of the park. Mbappe has opted for flair in the centre of the pitch but does have some steel in the form of Zinedine Zidane. The most defining player of the 1990s, the Frenchman also had a nasty side to his game, as was on display in the 2006 World Cup final.
Alongside him is a man who no doubt brought a smile to Mbappe's face growing up, as he did to so many. Not only was Ronaldinho a world-class talent, but the Ballon d'Or winner treated playing football at the highest level with the spirit of someone who was enjoying playing at the park with their friends. The way football has evolved tactically only adds to the Brazilian's mystique, as players like him have become few and far between.
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Forwards
Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo
If the rest of the team wasn't impressive enough, Mbappe has made sure to go all out at the top end of the pitch. On either wing are the other two men with whom he formed one of the most frightening attacking trios in Europe. The fact that PSG still couldn't achieve their ultimate goal even with Lionel Messi and Neymar partnering the Frenchman is startling. However, they are worthy inclusions in the team nonetheless.
Down the middle, Mbappe has gone with two of the most explosive players ever seen. Ronaldo Nazario's legacy as one of the greatest is already cemented given his dominance and what he achieved, but had it not been for injuries, he may have reached the same heights as his namesake.
Mbappe's admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo is well publicised, given that posters of the Portuguese icon used to be on his bedroom wall. So it's no surprise that the man attempting to emulate the greatest goalscorer in football history at the Santiago Bernabeu has included him as the final piece to this astounding team.