Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has just had a very fascinating change of perspective on the iconic debate between PSG team mate Lionel Messi and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Paris Saint-Germain striker extraordinare Kylian Mbappe has recently vouched for his compatriot Lionel Messi as “the best player in the world” in what has now appeared to be an interesting change of heart and stance. The fleet-footed, nimble Frenchman and the former Barcelona icon both scored a brace in the Parisian giants’ dominant 4-1 victory again Club Brugge in the Champions League.
The recent trouncing of the Belgian upstarts was a totally contrasting one in comparison with the Parisians’ earlier drab 1-1 draw against the Belgians then, which saw Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar being deployed together for the first time and not being able to gel together as one mean scoring machine, which accordingly drew a lot of criticism and quite a few sniggers from the opposing team.
However, Mbappe’s latest assertion that the Argentine is the best player in the world is fascinating, as he has previously opined that Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo was the planet’s ultimate footballer and his undeniable idol. Yet, after just a few intimate months of playing and training alongside the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner, it appears Mbappe has finally begun to see the light and the true greatness of the little Argentine magician in close proximity up front and now considers him head and shoulders above the rest.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi both scored two goals for PSG against Club Burgge.
“It’s easy to play with Lionel Messi,” Mbappe said after the victory at the Parc des Princes.
“He’s the best player in the world. He won the Ballon d’Or a few days ago.
“He scored two goals today, he is happy, and I hope he will help us in the future.”
In an interview with Marca in February, Mbappe opened up on the difficulty he had deciding between Messi and Ronaldo, and even admitted he regularly chose the Portuguese star.
“From one year to the next, my choice changes between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi,” Mbappe said to Marca in February.
“Even if I have to admit to picking Ronaldo more often. I loved him when I was younger.”
Mbappe also stated Ronaldo was one of his footballing idols when he was just a young boy growing up in Paris. Mbappe has previously admitted to choosing Ronaldo as his choice over Messi. He opened up on his admiration before PSG’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid in 2017.
“Yes, of course. He is a hero from my childhood and it was amazing to meet him when I visited Valdebebas,” Mbappe said to Marca in 2017.
“But I am a competitor and a person who is very competitive and all I want to do is win, win, win.
“So it doesn’t really matter who is in front of us, we want to win. I admired him when I was younger, but that ended.”
Mbappe’s future at the French giants is currently up for speculation amid a summer of relentless interest from a pugnacious Real Madrid and the French World Cup winner was subject to two monstrous bids from the Spanish giants at the end of the recent summer transfer window, but has still remained in the French capital.
However, his contract is up for renewal next summer, and his days with the French giants seem to be numbered, despite PSG’s attempts to coax and entice him to stay.
The club are hoping their astonishing acquisition of Messi could help convince him to stay at the club, but this remains to be seen. While Messi has often struggled in Ligue One, his Champions League performances have been magnificent this campaign.
The 34-year-old has five goals in five appearances in Europe’s elite competition, compared to one goal in nine appearances in the French league.