Ronaldo’s 2002 World Cup remains the clearest evidence. He scored eight goals, won the Golden Boot and scored twice in the final, but the numbers only tell part of the story.
He could run beyond defenders, shift direction with a body feint, carry the ball through the middle and finish with either foot. His threat did not depend entirely on a cross, a rebound or a large patch of open grass. He could manufacture the opportunity himself.
That central versatility separates him from the other two profiles.
Mbappé is the most dangerous of the trio in transition. His acceleration forces defences to retreat, and his finishing from the left, through the middle or in one-on-one situations gives him a wide scoring range. His World Cup record is already exceptional.
Yet many of his best tournament performances have come as a wide forward or inside-left attacker. He can play as a central striker, but his greatest weapon remains space.
Klose was a purer number nine. His first movement, aerial timing and reactions to loose balls made him ideally suited to tournament football. He needed few touches to decide a match, but he was more dependent on service and less capable of dismantling a defence alone.
The debate is not simply about total goals. It is about how many ways a striker can solve the same problem. Ronaldo could stretch a back line, attack the box and break through the middle when both routes were closed.
Mbappé’s next World Cup campaign will test whether his growing central role can narrow that gap. Klose’s case is historical; Ronaldo’s remains the benchmark for completeness.