Mason Greenwood further enhanced his burgeoning reputation on Thursday evening with another superb individual performance for Manchester United against Aston Villa.The 18-year-old scored his 16th goal of the season on the stroke of half-time thanks to a beautiful right-footed strike from the edge of the box.That’s now four goals in his last three appearances for the Bradford-born forward, who is earning rave reviews from fans and pundits alike.Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba also got themselves on the scoresheet as United sealed a convincing 3-0 win over their relegation-threatened opponents.In the process, the Red Devils became the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive games by a margin of three or more goals.Greenwood was subbed off with just over 10 minutes left to play as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to keep the teenager fresh for United’s remaining fixtures.
And it was during the second half that ‘Mbappe’ began to trend on Twitter.
Kylian Mbappe wasn’t playing at the same time. Paris Saint-Germain’s world-class French forward was trending because so many football fans on the platform were comparing him to Man Utd’s red-hot No. 26.
Some people believe that Greenwood is showing signs that he might be even better than Mbappe…
While others feel that such comparisons are far too premature…
Speaking after the final whistle, Solskjaer said it’s inevitable that Greenwood will get better because he’s still so young.
"I am doing my bit to help him but he has to do it - turn in performances in training, in games, live his life properly, it's up to him how far he wants to go,” the United boss said.
"He's 18, of course he will get better. He is a natural footballer, has been in the academy since he was a little boy, his dad showed me a picture of us when he was seven. He knows we believe in him. You cannot leave players out when they score goals."
But can we seriously compare Greenwood to Mbappe, the player many people believe will become the best footballer in the world once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are off the scene, already?
GIVEMESPORT’s Rob Swan says…
Look, we’ve all been guilty of overhyping young players down the years, but it’s hard not to get excited about Mason Greenwood.
Only three teenagers in Man Utd’s entire history have scored more goals in a single season than the club’s current starboy: Wayne Rooney, Brian Kidd and George Best.
If Greenwood scores two more goals between now and the end of the season - which feels inevitable - then he will have surpassed all three of them.
The youngster can score all types of goals and, most impressively of all, it’s impossible to tell whether he’s left or right-footed.
Very few players, even at the highest level, are as two-footed as the England Under-21 international and this makes him an absolute nightmare to defend against.
He isn’t as lightning-quick as Mbappe but then again, who is?
That said, he’s certainly no slouch and is arguably an even better finisher than the PSG superstar.
Can he reach Mbappe’s level? It’s too early to tell.
But one thing’s for sure: the boy has the world at his feet.