Has the Erling Haaland vs Kylian Mbappe debate now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi in terms of relevancy?

This was the question football fans and pundits were debating last season after the Champions League Round of 16 matches.

Mbappe scored a sensational hat-trick against Messi’s Barcelona in the first leg back in February to leave Paris Saint-Germain with one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The following night, Haaland netted a brace to inspire Borussia Dortmund to a 3-2 victory over Sevilla.

Ronaldo’s Juventus, meanwhile, suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Porto.

Both Juve and Barça were eliminated from the competition after the second legs.

Haaland was the top scorer in last season’s Champions League with 10 goals, followed by Mbappe (8).

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For many, it felt like the beginning of a new era.

Ronaldo's text message following Haaland vs Mbappe debate

BT Sport did an entire programme based on how Haaland and Mbappe are the future of football - the new superstar duo poised to dominate the world - and this sparked an immediate reaction from Ronaldo, according to The Independent.

The report claims the ‘riled’ Ronaldo sent a WhatsApp message to BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand before he was even off the air.

Cristiano's message was crystal clear: “It’s not over”.

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You’ve got to admire Ronaldo’s relentless desire to be the best and for people to recognise him as the greatest, even as he approaches his late-30s.

Messi, on the other hand, ‘wasn’t riled by such superficialities’. He was far more angry by the way Barcelona crumbled against PSG.

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'Ronaldo joined Man Utd because Messi signed for PSG'

The report also claims that one figure who has worked with Ronaldo says the Portuguese forward’s decision to leave Juventus was “100 per cent” influenced by Messi joining PSG.

“The Portuguese was already greatly regretting his transfer to Serie A, and felt the Italian club were a long way from challenging for the Champions League,” The Independent’s Miguel Delaney writes. “His great rival putting himself in prime position to win it again, as well as another Ballon d’Or, clarified Ronaldo’s thinking.”

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Again, you have to respect Ronaldo’s elite mentality.

Fearing that Messi’s move to PSG would enhance his great rival’s chances of winning silverware - including the coveted Ballon d’Or award for a record-breaking seventh time - Ronaldo knew he had to escape Turin.

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Despite interest from Man City, he completed a dream return to Old Trafford and now has his sights set on transforming the Red Devils into champions of England and Europe as quickly as possible.

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