“I respect him enormously” – Super Eagles prospect reveals admiration for Qatar 2022’s most exciting attacker

No player has scored more goals than the flying Frenchman at the World Cup with the youngster close to picking a second world title in four years

Arsenal-owned forward Folarin Balogun has revealed his admiration for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe who he describes as a ‘phenomenon’.

Mbappe has been arguably the star attacking performer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar where he has been crucial to France’s impressive run to the semifinals.

The 23-year-old winger has grabbed five goals and added two assists in five games to sit atop the goalscorer’s chart at the tournament. That stat is already an improvement in the four goals he contributed in seven games to power France to the world title at Russia 2018.

It is no surprise that Mbappe has been on fire in Qatar looking at how unstoppable he was in various club competitions leading to the World Cup.

Only the former Monaco man can boast of seven goals and three assists in six UEFA Champions League matches this season. He is also the leading goalscorer in the French Ligue 1 with 12 goals and two assists in 14 games.

Mbappe’s haul is four more than the eight goals that Folarin Balogun managed for Reims in Ligue 1 while on loan from Arsenal, with many hailing the brilliance of the Super Eagles-eligible striker.

Balogun is the first to admit that there is no comparison between him and Mbappe and that the Frenchman is already a player he would like to emulate.

“Mbappé is a phenomenon,” Balogun told Lunion.

“I respect him enormously. He is young, like me, and I have always admired everything he has accomplished for some time. He also plays in France in addition. I want to follow in his footsteps and have his impact.”

Balogun has a contract with Reims until the end of the season when he would expect to return to Arsenal and force his way into manager Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans.