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Kylian Mbappe will "take over the throne" from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world once the Barcelona and Juventus forwards retire, reckons Rio
Ferdinand. Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday night. Barca took a 1-0 first-half lead at
the Nou Camp through Lionel Messi from the penalty spot but Mbappe drew Mauricio Pochettino's PSG level just five minutes later. Mbappe added another two efforts either side of a goal
from striker Moise Kean, on loan from Everton, including a brilliant third as the Ligue 1 champions ran riot in Catalonia. PSG were losing finalists to Bayern Munich, who thrashed Barca 8-2
in the semi-finals, last season and are looking to go one better in their pursuit of elusive European glory this term. And in 22-year-old Mbappe, who has 21 goals and nine assists in 29
games this term, they have the heir to Barca icon Messi and Juve frontman Ronaldo, believes Manchester United legend Ferdinand. The former centre-back told BT Sport after Mbappe's
hat-trick against Barca: "This guy is the guy who is going to take over the throne from Messi and Ronaldo when they're done with it. "He's gone and given a statement.
He's said 'This is me now. I'm the man for this big stage.'" Asked if there are any other wonderkids that compare to Mbappe, Ferdinand neglected to pick Borussia
Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland, linked with his former club United. Instead he named World Cup-winning France international Mbappe as the standalone star of the next generation.
"Mbappe is on his own," he said. "People forget he's 22 years old, given he's won the World Cup, what he's done in French league, in the Champions League
he's been immense. "I just feel he's the guy now who's going to take that throne, take the crown and be there. He's standing alone at the moment and it's for
everybody to catch up with him." Despite his side losing 4-1, Barca forward Antoine Griezmann declared himself happy for his international team-mate Mbappe. "He asked me yesterday
in training: 'How many times have you won at Camp Nou?' I told him once. He answered: 'Tomorrow, it will be twice.' That's why he's a top player." The
return leg in France takes place on March 10 with Barca facing a huge task to overturn their three-goal deficit at the Parc des Princes. PSG return to Ligue 1 duty as they welcome Monaco to
Paris on Sunday (8pm UK time) and trail leaders Lille by a point after 25 games. Barca sit third in La Liga, three points behind Clasico rivals Real Madrid in second having played a game
less. Ronald Koeman's team have played 22 times ahead of hosting Cadiz on Sunday (1pm) with Atletico Madrid eight points ahead having played one match less.