Kylian Mbappe’s perspective on the ongoing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo debate has resurfaced online.
The Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar is often considered one of the leading figures expected to carry on the legacy of these two legendary players, who have a combined total of 12 Ballon d’Or wins.
Mbappe’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo is well-documented, as he grew up idolizing the Portuguese star, adorned his room with multiple posters of him, and extensively watched his footage during his formative years.
Maturity is realising that Leo Messi is the greatest of ALL time!
Ft. Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/23vqPoAfvZ
— Sara 🦋 (@SaraFCBi) September 13, 2023
Indeed, Kylian Mbappe’s journey has been quite remarkable. As a 14-year-old, he had the opportunity to meet Cristiano Ronaldo while wearing Real Madrid attire, reflecting his admiration for the Portuguese icon. However, a decade later, Mbappe found himself as a teammate of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain and facing off against Messi in one of the most memorable World Cup finals in history, featuring Argentina and France.
Through these experiences, Mbappe has openly acknowledged how growing up has allowed him to fully appreciate the exceptional talent and abilities of Lionel Messi. It’s a testament to the unique nature of football that has brought these two extraordinary players together in different capacities over the years.
“I love Cristiano and I was a big fan of him when I was young but I start to learn Messi too because when you are a big fan of Cristiano when you are young, you can’t see how Messi is good because you love Cristiano.
“But I grew up and I like both now.”
Abdou Diallo, an ex teammate of Mbappe’s at PSG, has spoke previously about his stance on Messi vs Ronaldo, stating that, “If you mention Lionel Messi against Cristiano, Mbappe will debate with you for at least an hour.”
But as much as he pays respect to the achievements of Messi and Ronaldo, who have dominated football for 15 years, Mbappe is all about carving his own path.
In 2021, he revealed that he tells himself that he is better than both players because of his mentality and desire to be the best.
He toldRMC Sport:“Every time I go on a pitch I always tell myself that I’m the best and yet I have played on grounds where there was Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo).
“They are better players than me, they have does a billion more things than me. But in my head I always tell myself that I’m the best because that way you don’t give yourself limits and you try to give your best.”
Mbappe, who stayed on at PSG despite a summer saga where it looked like he wanted to move on, has 288 career goals to his name as well as a 2018 World Cup win.