Kylian Mbappe, Marcus RashfordGetty

WATCH: Innovation Champions - Mbappe, Rashford and Europe's next wave

After a decade of complete dominance, the day that will signal the end of the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era is now just over the horizon.

And this week, Europe’s next wave is set to collide as Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, with Marcus Rashford going up against Kylian Mbappe.

The France international leads the new generation, having emerged as the natural heir to the throne, underlined by his sensational performances both at home and abroad.

The 20-year-old hit a staggering 14 Champions League goals by his 20th birthday – 12 more than Messi and 14 more than Cristiano Ronaldo, whose initial transformation into one of the deadliest forwards the game has ever seen saw the Portuguese fail to score in his first 29 UCL appearances.

Only three players in the Champions League this season have had more touches in the opponents’ penalty area than World Cup winner Mbappe, who has also hit four goals and bagged four assists in the competition already this season.

Watch the video above for the statistics and full breakdown. 

Throughout the 2018-19 season, the 'Innovation Champions' series will highlight the Intelligent Movement of Europe's top teams. Follow the series on Facebook at Nissan Football Lab