March 09, (THEWILL) – Thierry Henry and Brazilian superstar Ronaldo Nazario, according to Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain, are the players that most inspire him to play at the level he plays.
Mbappe has developed a style that allows him to be effective both with and without the ball, thanks to his quickness and ability to create and run into space.
PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar, tend to be in control of the ball, so the 23-year-old’s ability to sneak in behind the opposition defence is a perfect combination.
“I play with a few players, who love to have the ball at their feet – Messi and Neymar – and me, I’m the player who can go with my movement without the ball”, Mbappe explained.
“I can touch the ball too, but I can move without the ball to create some space for the others and myself. We work on it in training, but it’s a natural quality as well.
“As a French player, you can say Thierry Henry, that is normal,” he replied when asked to list the players who had influenced him to play that style. But he did not leave out Ronaldo Nazario.
“It is this type of complete player, who play with the ball, connected with the game, but also can play without the ball and create movement, that I want to be. I work every day to be as good as them.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
