Mbappé vs Haaland vs Vinícius – So Who Is the Best?

Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior are three of the defining attackers of this generation. Their careers have overlapped, and all three have produced elite numbers at club and international level. Each offers a different type of attacking impact, from pure goal scoring to creativity and all-round play. But who is the best overall?

We compare them across a number of key attacking categories, using all-time data, and leave the final judgment to you.

Who Is Better in Goal Scoring?

What really defines this comparison is the contrast in goal scoring efficiency and volume across different roles. While all three players score in different ways, their all-time numbers show clear patterns rather than constant back-and-forth dominance.

Across their careers, Erling Haaland holds the strongest scoring rate, with 344 goals in 416 games, giving him a 0.83 goals-per-game ratio. Kylian Mbappé follows with 424 goals in 564 games, resulting in a 0.75 goals-per-game ratio, while Vinícius Júnior is well behind, scoring 140 goals in 474 games (0.30 ratio).

At club level, the pattern remains similar. Haaland has scored 289 goals in 368 games (0.79 per game), while Mbappé has 369 goals in 470 games (0.78 per game). Vinícius again trails with 132 goals in 429 games (0.31 per game). The gap between Haaland and Mbappé is narrow, with both producing elite-level scoring across multiple seasons, while Vinícius’ output reflects a more creative role rather than a goal-focused one.

International football further separates the profiles. Haaland’s 55 goals in 48 games (1.15 goals per game) stands out clearly, while Mbappé’s 55 goals in 94 games (0.58 goals per game) remains strong and consistent at the highest level. Vinícius’ national team output is much lower, with 8 goals in 45 games (0.18 goals per game), reinforcing that goal scoring has not been his primary contribution.

Role evolution also matters when judging these numbers. Vinícius spent much of his early career as a touchline winger, only recently moving closer to goal. Mbappé began wide before transitioning into a more central attacking role, while Haaland has been a striker from the start, allowing him to focus almost entirely on finishing. If these differing roles and career paths are taken into account, the gap between Mbappé and Haaland remains tight, while Vinícius’ lower totals become more understandable.

Among all categories, goal scoring is clearly led by Haaland, closely followed by Mbappé, with Vinícius positioned well behind due to role and output rather than ability.

Who Is Better in Assists?

Assists reveal which players consistently create goals rather than finish them, and the all-time numbers show a clear hierarchy when viewed across totals, rates, and elite competitions.

Across their careers, Kylian Mbappé leads in total assists, recording 146 assists in 564 games (0.26 assists per game). At club level, he produced 111 assists in 470 matches, while at international level he added 59 assists, showing that his creative output translates across competitions. While scoring remains his primary strength, these numbers confirm that playmaking has been a consistent secondary part of his game.

Vinícius Júnior stands out when assist contribution is measured relative to role. He registered 93 assists in 474 games (0.20 assists per game), with 87 assists coming at club level. Assists make up a large share of his overall attacking output, reflecting his responsibility in ball progression, chance creation, and final passes rather than pure finishing. His national team assists remain low (6 in 45 games), but this is offset by strong club and European output.

Erling Haaland ranks clearly behind in creative metrics. With 59 assists in 416 games (0.14 assists per game), most of his assists come incidentally from finishing actions rather than structured creation. His club assists (52 in 368 games) and limited national output (7 assists) underline that chance creation is not a core part of his role.

The Champions League data sharpens the contrast further. Using UEFA-recognised non-Opta assists, Vinícius leads with 30 assists in 70 matches (0.43 assists per game), showing elite creative influence at the highest level. Mbappé follows with 24 assists in 91 matches (0.26 per game), maintaining steady contribution alongside scoring. Haaland trails far behind with 5 assists in 56 matches (0.09 per game), reinforcing his focus on finishing rather than creation.

Role and playing style explain the assist gap. Vinícius has played mainly as a wide creator, Mbappé shifted from winger to a more central role, and Haaland has always been a finisher. As a result, assists are led by Vinícius, followed by Mbappé, with Haaland well behind due to role rather than ability.

Who Is Best at Passing / Playmaking?

When it comes to overall chance creation, the numbers show a clear difference in creative involvement between the three. (All chance-creation data below reflects recorded and available matches only, as some early cup fixtures do not have complete tracking data.)

Across their careers, Kylian Mbappé has created 810 chances in 564 games (1.44 per game), the highest among the three. He also produced 225 big chances (0.40 per game), showing that he not only creates frequently but also generates high-quality opportunities.

Vinícius Júnior follows closely with 613 chances in 474 games (1.29 per game), along with 131 big chances created (0.28 per game). While his total volume is lower than Mbappé’s, his role as a wide creator explains his strong numbers, particularly in buildup phases.

Erling Haaland trails significantly, creating 305 chances in 416 games (0.73 per game), with 90 big chances created (0.22 per game). His lower numbers reflect his role as a central finisher rather than a creative hub.

In the Champions League, the separation becomes sharper. Vinícius has created 127 chances in 70 matches (1.81 per game), an elite rate and the highest of the three. Mbappé follows with 138 chances in 91 games (1.52 per game), while Haaland again records 0.73 chances per game, mirroring his overall rate.

When looking at assist efficiency, Haaland converts 19% of his chances into assists, Mbappé 18%, and Vinícius 15%. This shows that while Haaland creates less, his final passes are often decisive, whereas Mbappé and Vinícius operate at higher volume. Overall, playmaking is led by Mbappé in total volume, Vinícius in elite European creativity, and Haaland ranks clearly behind, as his primary function is finishing rather than creation.

Who’s the Best at Shot Convertion?

The shooting numbers show a clear contrast in style and efficiency between the three. In terms of volume, Kylian Mbappé leads with 974 shots on target in 564 games (1.73 per game), compared to Erling Haaland with 670 in 416 games (1.61 per game), and Vinícius Júnior with 428 in 474 games (0.90 per game) (all figures based on recorded and available match data).

However, when it comes to efficiency, Haaland leads clearly. He converts 51.3% of his shots on target into goals (344 goals from 670), compared to Mbappé’s 43.5% (424 from 974) and Vinícius’ 32.7% (140 from 428). This highlights Haaland’s ability to turn accurate attempts into goals at a higher rate.

Penalty data also adds context. Mbappé has 363 non-penalty goals from 424 total, Haaland has 295 non-penalty goals from 344, and Vinícius has 133 non-penalty goals from 140. This shows that the majority of goals for all three come from open play, though Haaland’s overall conversion rate remains the strongest.

Despite Haaland’s superior efficiency, his role as a central striker explains much of that advantage. He operates mainly inside the box and rarely takes low-percentage shots from distance, which naturally boosts his conversion rate. Mbappé, by contrast, attempts more shots from wider and longer-range positions, increasing his volume but slightly lowering efficiency. Vinícius, as a natural winger, is less focused on shooting volume altogether.

Who’s the Best at Dribbling?

Dribbling ability is closely linked to role and playing style. Kylian Mbappé began his career as a wide attacker, relying heavily on pace and direct runs at defenders. Although he has gradually moved into a more central role, dribbling remains a major part of his game, especially in transition situations.

Vinícius Júnior has spent most of his career as a traditional winger, staying wide and frequently isolating defenders in one-v-one situations. Because of this, dribbling continues to be one of his primary tools in attack.

Erling Haaland, on the other hand, has operated almost exclusively as a central striker. His game is built around movement inside the box and finishing rather than taking on defenders repeatedly. The numbers reflect these roles.

Mbappé has completed 1286 successful dribbles in 564 games (2.28 per game), the highest total and rate among the three. Vinícius follows with 977 successful dribbles in 474 games (2.06 per game), also maintaining strong volume. Haaland is far behind, with 225 successful dribbles in 416 games (0.54 per game).

There is little doubt in this category. Dribbling is clearly strongest with Mbappé, closely followed by Vinícius, while Haaland’s lower numbers reflect positional role rather than technical weakness.

Who Scores More Hat Tricks?

(For clarity, hat tricks here are counted as three or more goals in a single game, as some sources only include exactly three.) The overall numbers show that Erling Haaland leads in total hat tricks, with 27 in 416 games, averaging one every 15.4 games. Close behind is Kylian Mbappé, who has recorded 24 hat tricks in 564 games, one every 23.5 games. Vinícius Júnior has 4 hat tricks in 474 games, averaging one every 118.5 games.

When looking at non-penalty hat tricks, the gap narrows slightly. Haaland has 20 non-penalty hat tricks, while Mbappé has 19, showing that most of their multi-goal performances come from open play rather than spot kicks. Vinícius’ 4 hat tricks are all non-penalty.

League data shows Haaland ahead again, with 15 league hat tricks, compared to Mbappé’s 11 and Vinícius’ 2. In the Champions League, however, Mbappé leads with 5 hat tricks, ahead of Haaland’s 2 and Vinícius’s 1. At international level, Haaland dominates with 6 hat tricks, while Mbappé has 3, and Vinícius has 0.

Role context matters here. Haaland operates as a central striker and primary penalty taker, which increases his chances of scoring three or more in dominant performances. Mbappé’s hat tricks are spread across competitions, including stronger European opposition. Vinícius, as a wide attacker and secondary scorer, naturally records fewer multi-goal matches.

Who’s the Best at Free Kicks?

Free kicks are a specialized role, and unlike other categories, none of these three players are regular primary takers for club or country, which already limits the sample size.

In terms of direct free-kick goals, Kylian Mbappé has scored 1 in top-level senior competition, while Vinícius Júnior has 2, both coming during his stint with Real Madrid Castilla in Spain’s fourth professional division rather than La Liga or international matches. Erling Haaland has 0 direct free-kick goals in senior competition.

Even though Vinícius technically leads in total, his goals came outside the top tier, Mbappé’s came at the highest level, and Haaland rarely takes free kicks at all, leaving them to designated specialists. He plays in a Manchester City side where Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden are established set-piece takers. The low numbers across the board reflect role rather than technical limitation.

Overall, There is no "dominant" taker in this group. Vinícius holds the highest volume (technically), while Mbappé has the highest-level conversion. Haaland remains an outlier, opting to be the target of the set-piece rather than the executor.

Who’s Better at International Level?

It is difficult to compare international careers when players represent teams at different competitive levels. Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior play for World Cup regulars with deep squads and constant exposure to major tournaments, while Erling Haaland represents Norway, a strong but lower-ranked side with fewer appearances on the biggest stages. This gap affects opportunities, opposition level, team quality, and overall output.

Even so, the numbers still highlight clear differences. Mbappé and Haaland are level on total goals with 55 each, but Mbappé reached that mark in 94 matches , while Haaland did so in just 48, giving Haaland a far superior scoring rate. However, Mbappé compensates with overall involvement, providing 59 assists compared to Haaland’s 7. Vinícius has 8 goals and 6 assists in 45 matches, a solid return but still below the other two at this stage.

When we look at their notable moments and achievements with the national team, Mbappé stands in a league of his own as a 2018 World Cup winner, finishing that tournament with 4 goals; he followed this by leading France to another final in 2022, winning the Golden Boot with 8 goals and reaching 12 World Cup goals in just 14 matches. Haaland, despite limited tournament exposure, played a decisive role in Norway’s promotion to Nations League A in 2025 with 7 goals in 6 matches and led their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with 16 goals and 2 assists in 8 matches, averaging 2.25 goals per game. While Vinícius has been a regular part of Brazil’s major tournament squads, he recorded 1 goal and 2 assists at the 2022 World Cup and 2 goals in the most recent Copa América.

Overall, Mbappé and Haaland currently lead in measurable international output, each standing out as the key performer for their national teams. while Vinícius already a world-class player, has not yet matched their statistical impact at international level,he continues to grow into a larger role for Brazil with steady but less dominant impact so far.

Who Is More Impressive in Club Football?

All three players have established themselves as elite performers at club level, though their impact is expressed in distinct statistical profiles rather than identical roles.

Kylian Mbappé remains the standard-bearer for sustained offensive volume. Having burst onto the scene with Monaco's miraculous 2017 Champions League run, he has maintained a decade of world-class output. By February 2026, Mbappé has surpassed 340 club goals and contributed over 110 assists in roughly 460 appearances. His impact is defined by a rare "dual-threat" profile—he is as much a playmaker as he is a finisher. His move to Real Madrid for the 2024/25 season silenced critics who questioned his ability outside of France; he secured the Pichichi Trophy in his debut campaign with 31 goals and followed it up with a blistering start to the 2025/26 season, reaching 23 goals by February. With seven league titles and a European Golden Boot to his name, Mbappé’s club career is a monument to consistent, high-ceiling production across multiple seasons.

In contrast, Erling Haaland has redefined the limits of scoring efficiency. While he has fewer total appearances than Mbappé, his strike rate is unprecedented. As of 2026, Haaland has amassed over 285 club goals in just 350 appearances, including an absurd 105 goals in his first 120 Premier League games.

Haaland’s greatness is most visible in the UEFA Champions League, where he maintains a ratio of over 1.0 goals per game— the highest in the history of the competition. His "Triple Crown" 2022/23 season with Manchester City remains his crowning achievement, where he broke the Premier League single-season scoring record (36 goals) and secured the Treble. Haaland does not seek the ball in build-up play like his peers; instead, he exists to conclude the move, a role that has earned him multiple Premier League Golden Boots and the reputation of a "cheat code" in elite football.

Vinícius Júnior represents a different archetype: the clutch, high-impact transitional attacker. Though his raw scoring totals—roughly 135 goals and 85 assists in 410 matches—may seem lower than the others, his influence is measured in "silverware moments." Vinícius has mastered the art of the Champions League final, scoring the winning goals in both the 2022 and 2024 finals. His evolution from a raw dribbler at Flamengo to the 2024 FIFA "The Best" winner highlights a player who thrives under the highest pressure. In the 2025/26 season, he continues to lead Real Madrid’s creative metrics, often serving as the engine for Mbappé’s goals. With two Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles, Vinícius’s career is defined not by the quantity of his goals, but by their weight and timing.

Ultimately,no single player dominates every category. However, in terms of goal contribution and consistency, Mbappé stands out with sustained output across more seasons and matches, having entered top-level club football earlier. Haaland, meanwhile, excels in scoring efficiency, operating at close to a 0.8 goals-per-game ratio across his club career.