How to stop Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane? Former defender offers

Four of football's most prolific strikers announced their arrival at the World Cup in devastating fashion last week, each seemingly spurred on by the others' performances. Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, Manchester City's Erling Haaland netted a brace in Norway's 4-1 victory over Iraq, Inter Miami's Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0, and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane scored twice in England's 4-2 win over Croatia. The question now: could this be the tournament of the star striker, and how do opponents plan to stop them?

Four different styles, one common threat

Former Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams, speaking to BBC Sport, broke down how defenders might approach each of these elite forwards. Despite their contrasting styles, all four are equally effective in their own way.

Lionel Messi: Push him into comfortable areas

Messi turns 39 on Wednesday, but his hat-trick against Algeria showed no signs of decline. The treble took him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all-time top scorer on 16 goals, though Mbappe is just two behind. With 120 international goals, stopping Messi requires a team effort, Williams said.

"It's more of a team effort," Williams said. "I always felt being a defender that you are hoping for a bit of luck. You've got to cover all your bases, which might be getting tight as a defender, or dropping off and letting your midfield get tight. Try as best you can to push him into comfortable areas with your body shape, your distancing and your angles of approach. He's one of those players where if you have to pick a poison, say you'd rather someone else take the shot than him."

Williams added that forcing Messi onto his weaker foot would have limited success. "He seems to take control in possession, no matter where you try to push him out to. He's got the low centre of gravity, great balance, his touch is exceptional, so he can manipulate the ball and get you into a place you don't want."

Kylian Mbappe: Stay locked in with him

Williams has first-hand experience of Mbappe from his own playing days with Wales. In November 2017, when Mbappe was 18, Williams marked him for 84 minutes of a friendly in Paris. Mbappe did not score but assisted Olivier Giroud in a 2-0 win. Now 27, Mbappe's brace against Senegal took him past Giroud to become France's all-time top scorer on 58 goals.

"He was very difficult to play against," Williams said. "Mbappe is more direct than Messi. Not to say that he's better, but he's equally as hard to defend against. When Mbappe dribbles, it's normally with more pace. The way he will manoeuvre the ball to where he wants, in a twist and turn, is with more intensity. When you're playing against a striker that is normally 100 miles an hour, you stay in that rhythm as well. You're defending at that pace, whereas Messi will slow you down and then speed you up. I'd probably rather play against Mbappe, because you stay locked in with him."

France's array of attacking talent means defenders cannot focus solely on Mbappe. "You'll do your homework, and see what type of runs players like to make," Williams added. "Michael Olise likes to come inside on his left foot a little bit more, which then might set off a run from Ousmane Dembele or Mbappe, so they will have trends that will be studied. If you focus all your attention on Mbappe, some of the others will hurt you. As a collective unit, you need to be working together on the same page."

Erling Haaland and Harry Kane: Different threats

While Williams did not provide specific analysis on Haaland and Kane in the same detail, both players demonstrated their clinical finishing. Haaland's two goals for Norway came against Iraq, while Kane's double helped England overcome Croatia. Their contrasting styles—Haaland's explosive power and Kane's intelligent positioning—present further challenges for defenders.

Conclusion: A collective defensive effort

Stopping any one of these strikers requires a coordinated defensive plan, but when multiple elite forwards are in form, the task becomes even greater. As Williams emphasised, defenders must rely on teamwork, preparation, and a bit of luck to neutralise the world's best.