Kylian Mbappe 'has taken over the mantle' from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - Ally McCoist

Ally McCoist believes Kylian Mbappe has succeeded Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the sport's biggest star.

The French forward already has a World Cup winners' medal to his name and will want to add more international silverware to his trophy cabinet in Germany this summer.

Mbappe is yet to win a Ballon d'Or since bursting onto the scene in 2015, but another strong showing at an international tournament will put him among the favourites to win football's most coveted individual honour this year. 

Messi and Ronaldo have won the Ballon d'Or 13 times between them, but McCoist insists Mbappe's talent has filled the void with both stars competing outside of Europe. 

"Mbappe is arguably one of the best players, if not the best player in the world, at this moment in time," McCoist said on TNT Sports. "He has taken over the mantle from Messi and Ronaldo. 

"His main assets are goalscoring and his pace, there is no doubt about that, and he has got it in bundles. 

"The one thing when you are defensively up against him, which I saw Borussia Dortmund do in a Champions League [semi-final], is they doubled up. 

"[Nico] Schlotterbeck and [Mats] Hummels doubled up against him, and I think it is something you have to do because the one thing you don't want is to get isolated in a one-on-one situation.

"I think he is probably better using his pace coming off a wing, whether that is the left preferably, or the right. 

"He can finish with either foot, he is technically excellent, and I think he will be a real threat in these [European Championship] games."

The 25-year-old inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a third consecutive Ligue 1 title this season, but the French giants missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League final after falling to a 2-0 aggregate defeat against Borussia Dortmund. 

And McCoist believes that Mbappe doesn't have any weaknesses.

"He is maybe stronger in some departments than others, but in terms of weaknesses, I don't think he has any," he said.

"His strengths are his lightning pace, his ability to finish, and his awareness to find space in and around the penalty box. 

"I don't think he is as technically gifted, in terms of dropping back and playing as a 10, as Harry Kane for example. 

"I don't think he does it, I don't think he wants to do it, to be honest with you. 

"We have seen Kane drop back into areas and link up with midfield players in a No. 10 position, I suppose Mbappe probably could do it but I would not say that is his favourite position. 

"I think his favourite position would be coming off the side or through the middle." 

McCoist knows all about competing at the top, having won 61 caps for Scotland. 

However, the Rangers legend fears he would have only slowed Mbappe down if they had played together. 

"I would have absolutely loved playing with Mbappe," he added. 

"He is one of those players who, if he's coming off the side, you know he is getting by his full-back. 

"All you need to do as a centre forward is get in the box - he'd probably have to slow down for me to be true!

"At the same time, I would love to have played with him because once he went by that full-back, nine times out of 10 you have got a tap in or one coming off the goalkeeper."

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