One is wanted by Manchester United; the other is keeping their season alive. Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe has quickly emerged as the most-exciting young striker in Europe but, as the season reaches crunch time, Marcus Rashford is again showing his potential. At 18 and 19 respectively, both forwards have the world at their feet. Jose Mourinho would like that sparkling future to be at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford demonstrated his natural talent once more as Manchester United beat Celta.
Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe is a wanted man after his breakthrough season in Ligue 1. Both have pace to burn, the ability to dodge defenders and a clinical streak that has helped drive their clubs to the brink of success this season.
Here, Sportsmail looks back at the pair's white-hot starts to their fledgling careers. Having started out in Monaco's youth system back in , Mbappe earned a first-team breakthrough 17 months ago, in December In coming on as an 88th-minute substitute against Caen he broke Thierry Henry's record as Monaco's youngest first-team debutant β at the age of 16 years and days.
A first goal was not to follow until two months later, when he became the club's youngest goalscorer by adding a late goal against Troyes in February of last year. After a strong summer at the Under 19 European Championship, expectations were raised and as Leonardo Jardim shifted his team into a more attacking shape this season, Mbappe got his chance.
The campaign started with a few impressive outings β mainly from the bench β before the teenager announced his talents to the world against Manchester City in February.
