Kylian Mbappe gets reality check in verdict on world's best player right now

That's according to World Cup winning midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who has loved watching the England star tear it up at Real Madrid this season.

While most take time to settle into life at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 20-year-old has scored 17 goals in 22 games since joining the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

To stand out in a team that includes Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr and Luka Modric is no mean feat. Competition to be the best in the world is fierce with Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane all at the top of their game, too

Mbappe has scored 25 goals in 24 games for Paris Saint-Germain, taking his overall tally for the club to 237 in 284 games.

The forward continues to be heavily linked with a move to join Bellingham at Real Madrid when his contract expires this season, a switch that would see him move closer to the summit of world football.

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As for Haaland, he's managed 71 goals in 75 games since leaving Dortmund - where he was a teammate of Bellingham - for a new challenge at Man City.

Winning the treble in his first season, the striker is clearly a contender to be the world's best, but according to former Arsenal and Chelsea ace Petit, Bellingham's performances for one of the most demanding club's in the world can't go unnoticed - and he should know having also played for Barcelona.

He's a star, actually," Petit told talkSPORT Drive. "Everything he touches is turning to gold."

Asked if he's the best in the world, Petit said: "Yes, because we are talking about Real Madrid. We're not talking about Paris Saint-Germain [where Mbappe currently plays].

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"Paris Saint-Germain is a big club but it doesn't have the same history as Madrid.

"When you go to Madrid or Barcelona, those clubs, you know what it means. It's like going to Manchester United, for example.

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"This is why I feel pity for Man United fans because I have the feeling that some players don't know what it means to wear the shirt of Manchester United."

Petit also singled out Harry Kane for praise for the way he has adapted to life with Bayern Munich.

Kane left the comfort of his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur for a new challenge in Bavaria where he has already racked up 25 goals in 22 games.

According to Petit, the England skipper is one of the best in a generation.

He said: "Harry Kane, for me, he's been one of the best for the last decade.

"English players don't like to leave England - it's a tradition to stay and I understand because the Premier League is the best league in the world and they're earning a lot of money and living a lot of passion with the fans, emotions as well so I understand why they stay here.

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"Sometimes it's good to see somewhere else and Harry Kane took a risk by going to Bayern Munich at his age.

"He could have gone to Manchester United and it would be easier for him but changing country, culture and learning a different language, you go into a different mentality and it's not easy at his age."

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