This is the first time Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have met at international level, despite both playing for European countries.
But the two are no strangers to meeting on the pitch for their respective clubs, having done so three times in the Champions League.
The first came in the 2020 round of 16, played just before the onset of the COVID pandemic when they were playing for Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.
That game saw Dortmund stun PSG 2-1 in Paris thanks to Haaland’s two goals, while Mbappe provided the assist for Neymar — a goal that later proved vital, as PSG stormed back in Germany to win 3-2 on aggregate.
A similar plot played out when the two met in the Champions League knockout play-offs five years later, with Haaland at Manchester City and Mbappe at Real Madrid. Haaland scored two goals in the first leg in Manchester, but Madrid won 3-2, aided by a goal from Mbappe.
The France captain then stole the spotlight in the second leg with Haaland effectively unfit to feature but still named as a substitute. Haaland stayed on the bench, while Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the Bernabeu to send Madrid through to the last 16.
Haaland did get some revenge during the 2025-26 UCL league phase, scoring a penalty to help City to a 2-1 win in Madrid. But Los Blancos once again sent the Premier League side out of the Champions League, this time in the round of 16. Madrid won 5-1 on aggregate, with Mbappe only a late substitute in the second leg given the tie was already likely decided with a 3-0 first-leg win at the Bernabeu. The City goal, coming in Manchester, of course came from Haaland.
