Ronaldo Nazario, widely regarded as one of football’s finest ever number nines and a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, has declared Kylian Mbappe the best striker in the game, a decision influenced by the Frenchman’s standout performance at the 2026 World Cup.
The legendary Brazilian, who netted 330 goals for clubs including Barcelona, Real Madrid, and PSV during his illustrious career, was present at the tournament where Mbappe, at 27 years old, cemented his place in history. According to GiveMeSport, Ronaldo’s assessment places Mbappe above other formidable talents like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
Mbappe’s commanding 2026 World Cup display
Kylian Mbappe was a force throughout the 2026 World Cup, claiming the Golden Boot after scoring an impressive 10 goals. His individual brilliance saw him become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer. Despite Mbappe’s prolific output, his team ultimately finished fourth in the competition.
Beyond his international exploits, Mbappe also enjoyed a stellar club season, scoring 42 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid, as reported by Transfermarkt. Ronaldo Nazario praised the forward’s unique attributes, stating, “I think Mbappe is doing amazing and he’s still very young. He’s playing with the number 10, but he’s a number nine.”
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A golden era for number nines
While Mbappe received the ultimate accolade from Ronaldo, the Brazilian icon also acknowledged the exceptional form of other top strikers. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland were both considered for the title of best striker, with their club and country statistics painting a picture of dominant goalscoring prowess. Kane recorded 73 goals in the past season, while Haaland found the net 58 times for club and country. The two were set to face each other in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash at the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo expressed his delight at the current generation of elite forwards. “I’m so happy to see players like them doing well with my characteristics of when I played. I’m just happy for them,” he remarked, as reported by GiveMeSport. “Years ago, we were talking about how we miss number nines. No, we have three like this, it’s good for everyone.” He specifically highlighted Kane and Haaland, adding, “I’m so happy to see Harry Kane and Haaland. Number nines, original nines. I’m so happy to see them doing well.”
Ronaldo’s comments, made ahead of the England versus Norway quarter-final, underscore a period where traditional centre-forwards are thriving, with Mbappe leading the charge as the legendary striker’s pick for the very best.
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