Mbappé and Haaland, a fight between the titans
If we have talked a lot about Lionel Messi, the 2023 duel will also be between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Not forgetting Vinicius and Neymar. This promises…
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
His eight goals in Qatar confirm, what we already knew, that he belongs to the lineage of exceptional players. And if he missed the opportunity to become even more legendary by winning a second World Cup, in the wake of his extraordinary final, he will not miss a tailor-made 2023 with the conquest of his first Champions League, and a first Pallone d’Or in his sights . Thanks or despite the presence of Messi alongside him?
He can do it : win the L1, win the Champions League, win the Ballon d’Or
He will do it : win L1, win the Champions League, qualify the Azzurri for Euro 2024
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Absent in Qatar, the Viking will have had time to recharge his batteries to attack 2023 with the appetite that has characterized him since his debut, aged 17, alongside Molde FK, in Norway. Before letting his City team-mates play in the World Cup without him, he had nonetheless been monstrous in his efficiency (29 goals in 30 games, leader of the Premier League top scorer with 18 goals), to place himself, at just 22, as the only striker able to match Mbappé over time.
2023 should allow him to flesh out a winners list as yet untouched by any major title, apart from a German Cup. On condition of stifling Arsenal’s great revival in the Premier League, and of overcoming the first hurdle towards the final in Istanbul, against RB Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
He can do it : wins the Champions League, the Premier League and becomes top scorer in the English league, wins his first Ballon d’Or
He will do it : finish top scorer in the Premier League and win the Cup
Vinicius (Real Madrid)
How he will digest the failure of his first World Cup, which comes after a 2022 marked by the Liga-Champions League double and 8th place in the Ballon d’Or standings, will tell us a lot about his mental density and ability to get up. There will be many deadlines in 2023 with the Merengues to make them forget Qatar… from February with a ruthless match against Liverpool.
He can do it : win La Liga, the Champions League
He will do it : Finishing in Barça’s footsteps in La Liga…
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Devastated by his missed penalty against France in the World Cup quarter-final, the England captain will have no time to mourn his fate with Spurs battling for the top of the Premier League table, and the prospect of another quarter-final , that of the Champions League, on condition of leaving Milan. The quest for a fourth Premier League top scorer title is still within reach, although Haaland took off at the break…
He can do it : win the Champions League, finish top scorer in the Premier League, win the Cup
He will do it : qualify Spurs for the next edition of the Champions League
Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)
The man with three lungs revealed himself and in the eyes of the world during an XXL World Cup where he showed he can hope to evolve in the best European clubs. His four seasons in Italy, Verona and Fiorentina, his performances with the Atlas Lions push him inexorably towards what would be his fourth Scudetto. After the Eredivisie (Utrecht and Feyenoord), the Jupiler Pro League (Club Burges) and Serie A, La Liga (Atlético Madrid) or the Premier League (Liverpool) turn to him.
He can do it : win the Europa League conference
He will do it : Sign in a Champions League club
Neymar (PSG)
2023 will be a fundamental year for a Brazilian who arrives at a crossroads at the age of 30. In a squad where the presence of Mbappé, Messi and Hakimi will remind him of the tears of Qatar, he has a choice. Either relaunch to look for another of his cursed competitions after which he runs desperately, the Champions League, or settle for shining in L1, which he does regularly without forcing his talent too much. From this choice will depend the trace that he will leave in the history of football far beyond his technical arabesques and his flashes with the ball at his feet.
He can do it : Win L1, Win Champions League
He will do it : Win L1, Win Champions League
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Failing to win a Scudetto with the Seleçao, the talented Portuguese international has no choice but to turn to the Citizens to enrich a list where only the Champions League is missing. If RB Leipzig shouldn’t create problems for Guardiola’s players in the round of 16, it will be more difficult to reach Arsenal in the league. Easier to get a second cup… before going to Spain to win a 4th championship (after Liga NOS, Ligue 1 and Premier League)?
He can do it : win the Champions League, win the Premier League, win the Cup
He will do it : win the Cup
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Spoiled by a final unworthy of the new dimension taken at the heart of the Blues’ game, his third World Cup will have been magnificent, probably to completely revive him with Atlético Madrid. While the stakes will be lower in 2023 for the Colchoneros, Grizou has a Euro 2024 to prepare to come full circle with the Blues.
He can do it : win the Spanish Cup, win the Ballon d’Or
He will do it : win the Spanish Cup, qualify the Azzurri for Euro 2024
Frankie De Jong (Barcelona)
Winning his first Liga, four years after his arrival at Barça, would allow him to restore the image of the blaugrana and also take a personal step. In the wake of a World Cup in which he kept his place in the middle of the Orange, he will have the opportunity in 2023 to confirm the return to the limelight of the Netherlands with a Nations League to be won at home against Croatia, Spain and Italy. We expect a lot from him…
He can do it : win La Liga, win the Europa League, win the Nations League -He will do it: winning La Liga and the Nations League
Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
We knew him as an individualist, brilliant on the ball, sometimes brilliant on the right side to let his left-footed technique speak, we discovered him altruistic, capable of making considerable defensive efforts and at the service of the collective. For him, as for most of the Atlas Lions, there will be a before and after Qatar 2022. Upon his return to Chelsea, there is no doubt that Graham Potter will be even more demanding with him. What allows him to cross a threshold?
He can do it : win the Champions League, win the Cup
He will do it : finish in the top 5 of the Premier League
