Rudiger sends an intimidating message to Mbappe.. and threatens the other monster with the same fate

Cristiano-Messi, Messi-Cristiano , the pairing that has dominated European football for the last fifteen years is taking its final breaths of what seemed like it would never end. Now that both are enjoying football in minor leagues, outside of Europe, others will have to pick up their baton.

That’s where Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland come in , two of the footballers (there are more: Bellingham, Griezmann, Vini, Julián Álvarez, Kane… ) who want to fill that void with goals and football. And things in life, both must pass the definitive test of Antonio Rüdiger , who is having a season worthy of study.

The first to consult with Rüdiger was Kylian Mbappé. The PSG striker, absolute leader of the French team, jumped onto the grass of the Groupama Stadium to face a complicated test for his selection. He received Germany, on the return of Toni Kroos to the Mannschaft, and he did so in a position in which he would have to try to go over the Madrid center back , one of the most complicated missions today. And it wasn’t his best day on the pitch… the German defense completely ‘dried’ out the PSG star to leave him with very poor numbers for someone like Kylian.

4 of 9 dribbles made (44%), 1 of 6 accurate shots (17%), 27 of 38 accurate passes (71%), 5 of 11 ground duels (45%) … and the feeling of constant discomfort . Because that is what Antonio Rüdiger generates to his rivals , who has already shown his particular individual marking.

The match also gave a ‘clash’ between the two after a providential cut by the German, who threw himself to the ground with everything to cut off the danger posed by the Frenchman’s charge . He stood up, applauded everyone… and ended up talking to Mbappé while he returned to his position and Thuram complained on the ground ( we attach video to the news ).

Who’s turn is it? Antonio Rüdiger might ask after his performance in the friendly against France and Germany. And since the ball is capricious, the second ‘beast’ of the world of football is already prepared to knock on the door of the Madrid central defender’s office. On April 9, Haaland will take to the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu to face a footballer who knows him perfectly… and who has already experienced the German’s defensive tricks firsthand.

“I was absolutely calm . I know how far I can go if I am 100% both physically and mentally. A circumstance was created that I love. The previous days, the media wondered if I was going to be able to defend Haaland ,” Rüdiger confessed after the first leg of last season’s Champions League semi-finals. The center back was very close to the City forward throughout the match and did not let him breathe … and even played psychological games.

The Norwegian’s statistics spoke for themselves: he touched the ball 21 times, made 9 of 12 passes, hit the target twice and lost the ball five times.

” There were a lot of doubts in the atmosphere and if I’m honest, I love that atmosphere: I shine brighter when people doubt me ,” said the center back… although this year no one doubts him. And after the visit of the first ‘victim’, Antonio shared on his social networks some photographs for his followers in which he is seen leaving Mbappé without options in attack in what some have interpreted as a message to a player who, in the future can be your companion. A suffocating defense that Mbappé himself has experienced firsthand: “Good night for us. Clean sheet ,” the German launched into his nets.