Mbappé Talks Messi: “I Was Angry, Furious”
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé didn’t hold back in a heartfelt interview on French television. He touched on everything from his adjustment to life in Spain to the pressures of being a modern footballer. Naturally, the topic of Lionel Messi came up. Their shared time at PSG and that unforgettable 2022 World Cup final painted an intriguing picture of their dynamic.
The World Cup Clash That Changed Everything
The 2022 World Cup final. Argentina versus France. A game for the ages. It ended in heartbreak for Mbappé, with Argentina taking the win on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw. For the Frenchman, seeing Messi back at PSG after the final was, well, complicated.
“After the World Cup final, when I saw Messi at training, I was still so angry,” Mbappé admitted. But Messi had a way of cutting through the tension. “He told me I had already won it before, and now it was his turn.”
That perspective shifted something. Mbappé confessed, “I was furious, but you respect it because it’s Messi.” Their bond grew through shared laughter and mutual respect.
Learning From the Master
Mbappé didn’t just see Messi as a teammate but also as a mentor. “Messi does everything well,” he said. “You can learn everything from a guy like that.” He’d constantly pick Messi’s brain. “I used to go up to him and ask, ‘How do you do this? How do you do that?’”
The World Cup final may have been a battlefield, but it laid the foundation for a deeper connection.
New Paths, Old Rivals
Now wearing Real Madrid’s iconic white jersey, Mbappé finds himself at one of Messi’s former rivals. Still, the respect remains unshaken. That final didn’t drive a wedge between them—it brought them closer.
