Kylian Mbappe‘s talent was recognized at a young age. A 17-year-old starlet, however, is eclipsing the PSG forward after breaking numerous records following his Ligue 1 debut. Amidst much fanfare, a teammate of the Lorient striker, a former Chelsea star, drew parallels with Mbappe after the youngster’s impressive debut.
The under-17 French prodigy is building a reputation at FC Lorient with his goal-scoring prowess. The Ligue 1 side eked out of a draw against OL Lyon, thanks to the recording-breaking stint of their homegrown talent. Furthermore, a former AC Milan midfielder spoke highly of his young teammate and firmly believed in his ascent in the upcoming season.
Bakayoko hails a French prodigy and compares his teammate to Kylian Mbappe
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Eli Junior Kroupi started his top-tier journey with FC Lorient this season. Kroupi’s swift playing style contributed to his three goals and two crucial assists. On this note, Tiémoué Bakayoko shared his thoughts on this 17-year-old starlet following their game against Lyon.
Bakayoko believes the forward is a promising prospect for the squad. The Lorient-born star exhibited a playing style reminiscent of Kylian Mbappe’s early days. The former Chelsea star also noted that Eli Junior Kroupi’s consistent performances have shades of Mbappe in them.
Tiémoué Bakayoko said in an interview, “He’s a phenomenon. He reminds me a little of Kylian Mbappé in his maturity as a player. He does everything very quickly. He already has good stats for a young person of his age. We have to give him time to toughen up a little but if he continues like this, we have a future Kylian Mbappé”
Tiémoué Bakayoko voit du Kylian Mbappe en Eli Junior Kroupi (17 ans), qui a inscrit un doublé hier face à l'OL ! 🤩
"C’est un phénomène. Il me fait un peu penser à Kylian Mbappé dans sa maturité de jeu. Il fait tout très vite. Il a déjà de bonnes stats pour un jeune de son ge… pic.twitter.com/vtbYlSZMKD
— Footballogue (@Footballogue) October 9, 2023
Kroupi netted a brace against Lyon in a 3-3 draw at Stade du Moustoir. Moreover, the league match marked some incredible records for the starlet, etching his name in the history of French soccer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Eli Junior Kroupi broke significant records in this debut season
The youngster surpassed many records in a mere seven appearances in Ligue 1. Kroupi scored a brace in the last match, marking him as the youngest player ever to score two goals in the French league. He broke the 49-year-old record with consistent pressure in the attacking third and to the Lyon backline.
The French star also holds the title of the youngest goal scorer of FC Lorient. Koupi kicked off this season against FC Nantes in the league. He made the headlines right from his debut games after being the youngest scorer of Ligue 1 at the age of 17 years and 92 days. Fans were left awestruck by Koupi’s achievements and hope to witness similar performances as the season progresses.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: Soccer Stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Makes a Huge Assist for Esports Space
Do you think Kroupi can surpass the legacy of Kylian Mbappe in his inaugural season?