Mbappe with world at his feet

When Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi broke the 100m dollar mark in annual earnings for the first time, both of them were in their 30s. In comparison, Kylian Mbappe broke that threshold at 23 and is about to be anointed as the richest-earning footballer of all time, according to Forbes.

Having won a World Cup at the age of 19 and moving into another final in four years, it was probably time the French sensation was regarded in the same esteem that many regard Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar. It was probably time Mbappe stamped his authority on world football with a second World Cup title.

The process of his ascension to the top started four years ago when a dynamic Mbappe burst onto the scene, and powered Les Bleus to their second World Cup title, scoring four goals and becoming the best young player of the tournament.

Born in Paris in 1998 – the year Zinedine Zidane inspired France to their first World Cup title – Mbappe showed his precocious talent from a young age and duly was hailed as the next big star of French football – in the long line of greats such as Michelle Platini, Eric Cantona, Jean Pierre Papin and, of course, Zinedine Zidane.

But since Zidane retired in 2006, the French team seemingly lost their aura of dominance and grace, despite producing a batch of technically gifted and versatile players. They were out in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup and then lost to eventual winners, Germany, in the quarterfinals four years later.

Mbappe, meanwhile, emerged as the team's saviour and brought back the aura of invincibility to the team, assisted by a group of experienced and talented teammates.

It is easy for a youngster drawing in million-dollar endorsements and salaries, to lose focus from football. It is easy to lose yourself in the endless parties of the fashion capital of the world. A great many talents have been wasted down that road. But not with Mbappe, whom the best-selling French sports paper L'Equipe recently anointed as The King.

Mbappe hasn't lost an iota of his spark, his pace and his trickery from four years ago. He has carried the same joy and mischief about himself, fitting for a teenager: his pranks with his teammates, bursting into a fit of laughter when Harry Kane missed his spot kick and then, taunting his good friend Achraf Hakimi with the threat of destroying him.

Away from the fun and banter, he is rivalling the best at this World Cup with his jaw-dropping goals. With five goals and two assists in the bag so far, the 23-year-old is running alongside Messi for both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards.

Following the win over Poland, Mbappe tweeted in support of the ailing Brazilian legend Pele, with the words, ''Pray for the King.''

In return, Pele responded, "I'm happy to see you breaking another one of my records in this Cup, my friend!"

Pele, in his hospital bed in Sao Paulo, will undoubtedly be glad if Mbappe lifts the trophy on Wednesday night to become the second youngest man to win two World Cup titles, after the great Brazilian himself.