Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain, has responded to recent comments by his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe, who suggested that winning the Euros is more challenging than winning the World Cup.
“He also said that the South American teams didn’t have the same high competition as the Europeans. Everyone values what they play,” Messi told ESPN Argentina. (Records Follow Me: Cristiano Ronaldo After Breaking Saudi Pro League Record)
“The Euros are very important, but it leaves out Argentina, three-time world champion; Brazil, five-time world champion; Uruguay, two-time world champion. There are many world champions left out to say that the Euros is the most difficult, right? In the World Cup, the best teams are there, all the world champions are generally there. That’s why everyone wants to be world champion,” Messi added
Commenting ahead of 2024 European Championships in Germany, Mbappe had said, “I consider the Euros more complicated than the World Cup, more complicated to win. If we talk about level, the Euros is more difficult because we are so used to play against each other. Tactically, it is similar football.”
It’s not the first time the new Real Madrid signing has invited fire from South American football. He had taken a jibe at the South American teams in May 2022, stating, “In South America, football is not as advanced as in Europe, that’s why when you look at the last World Cups it’s always the Europeans who win.”
Coincidentally, it was Messi and his team who defeated France the same year, securing Argentina’s third world title in a dramatic penalty shootout during the World Cup final in Doha, Qatar. Mbappe, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, recently acknowledged that the European Championships remain unfinished business for him.
“I want to win the Euros. I have to be honest. I won the World Cup. I won the Nations League. That’s the only one that missed me with the national team after I did everything with the national team. I really want to win this. My first competition as captain, so it’s really important for me and it’s always important for the country and we want them to be proud of us. [It’s] another opportunity to write the history of my country,” the French captain told CNN.
After years of speculation, France soccer captain Kylian Mbappe joined the Spanish club, Real Madrid as a free agent on a five-year contract on Monday. The 25-year-old World Cup winner with France joins a Madrid team that is already loaded with talent and still celebrating its latest European triumph, leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement under which he will become a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” Real Madrid said in an official statement. (Real Madrid Star Toni Kroos Announces Retirement)
Just two days ago, Madrid won a record-extending 15th European Cup title when it beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League final in London. The French striker expressed his feelings after joining the Los Blancos side.
“A dream come true. So happy and proud to join the club of my dreams, Real Madrid. Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas, and thanks for your unbelievable support. Hala Madrid !” Mbappe was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
Mbappe joined PSG from AS Monaco in 2017, following that he has played 290 matches for the Paris club and scored 243 goals. The French striker was 19 years old when he left his childhood club for PSG.
In the ongoing season of the Ligue 1, the Frenchman appeared in 19 matches and got the back of the net 20 times. He also made 4 assists in the French league. However, Mbappe never hid from accepting that his dream was to play for the 14-time UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner Real Madrid. For the last several years, the Los Blancos have been trying to bring him to Madrid, but Mbappe wasn’t keen on an exit before the expiration of his contract. In 2021, Real Madrid went all out to sign Mbappe, offering 220 million Euros. However, PSG turned it down. (With ANI Inputs)