TI CEO Podcast · episode 55
Kylian Mbappé – World Class Needs No Proof
1-minute summary
Christoph Standl talks in this episode about Kylian Mbappé, concluding his theme week on exceptional football personalities after Zidane, Kroos, Ronaldo, Messi and Alaba. He says that Mbappé, alongside Brazilian Ronaldo R9, is his absolute favourite player, even ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. He explains this through his own playing days at FC Schwoich near Kufstein, where he too played on the left wing and up front with speed. He mentions Mbappé's 2018 World Cup title and his three goals in the 2022 final, which France still lost. Standl stresses that one shouldn't constantly ask who is the best, neither in football nor in entrepreneurship. True world class, he says, needs no proof through titles, it shows in the performance itself.
Description
To wrap up my world-class theme week, I'm talking about my current absolute favorite player: Kylian Mbappé.
Along with Brazilian Ronaldo, he's one of my favorite footballers of all time – even ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Why Mbappé fascinates me so much also has to do with my own football history. I used to play at a good Tyrolean level for my hometown club, FC Schwoich near Kufstein. On the left wing and sometimes right up front as a striker. One of my strengths was speed – obviously on a completely different level than Mbappé's.
I talk about his extraordinary speed, his achievements with France, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. And about why, in my view, he would absolutely deserve to be named World Footballer of the Year.
But what if he never wins the Ballon d'Or or the Champions League?
My key takeaway: you don't have to be the greatest of all time to be absolutely world class. Not every success needs a ranking or a title as proof.
This episode wraps up my theme week on Zidane, Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Alaba, and Mbappé – six extraordinary footballers from whom I can learn something in very different ways.
And remember: big changes often start with small daily steps.