Lionel Messi had the crowning moment of his career in December last year when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. Messi had to defeat his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe’s France in the final of the World Cup 2022. However, the aftermath of the World Cup final left a lot of animosity between the Argentines and the French. However, Messi has finally opened up about his relationship with Mbappe after the World Cup 2022.
Kylian Mbappe on Messi & Ronaldo:
🗣 “If you tell yourself that you’ll do better than them [Messi and Ronaldo], it’s beyond ego or determination. It’s lack of awareness. Those players are incomparable, they have broken all laws of statistics.” pic.twitter.com/8NytNmFMWq
— FootyEmporium (@EmporiumFooty) February 3, 2023
The World Cup final left soccer fans contemplating Messi and Mbappe’s relationship. However, Messi, in his recent interview with Diario Ole, assured fans that there’s no hostility between the two. Messi also talked about his discussion with Mbappe when they reunited again in PSG.
Messi said, “Yes, we talked about the game, the festivities, how people had lived in Argentina in those days that I had been on vacation, and the festivities we had.” He also revealed how both players have refrained from talking about World Cup 2022 final. “No, even one does not want to talk and bring up the subject of the final and talk about it,” Messi said.
🗣Leo Messi to @DiarioOle :
“When I returned to Paris, I spoke with Kylian Mbappe, we spoke about the final, about the celebrations, and how our celebrations were when I was in Argentina, nothing more.”#PSG❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/uILq9FcDa4
— PSG Chief (@psg_chief) February 2, 2023
He continued, “I was on the other side too, I had to lose a world final as well. That’s why I don’t want to talk about it either. But the truth is that there is no problem with Kylian, quite the opposite.” Messi and Mbappe will soon be teaming up as PSG aims to fight for its first UEFA Champions League title. For PSG to have a successful season, they will need both Messi and Mbappe to work smoothly on the pitch.
Why didn’t Lionel Messi discuss the 2022 World Cup final with Kylian Mbappe?
The World Cup 2022 final will surely have left a bad taste in Kylian Mbappe’s mouth. Mbappe not only lost the World Cup final but also was subjected to mockery during the celebrations of the Argentine players. Emi Martinez, Argentina’s heroic goalkeeper, has been in the headlines for his infamous celebrations.
Martinez was seen holding a baby doll with Mbappe’s face on it while celebrating back in Buenos Aires. Martinez’s vile gesture while receiving the Golden Glove award after the World Cup final was also not appreciated by the French players. Mbappe was even found copying Martinez’s gesture outside the PSG training ground.
“A minute of silence for … Mbappe!” 😅
Emiliano Martinez during Argentina’s dressing room celebration.
(via nicolasotamendi30/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/dwm3IrUNWG
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2022
There was also a video where the Argentine players were singing songs that were targeted against the French talisman. The Argentine players were seen dancing in the dressing room after the final, singing, “a minute’s silence for…,” when Emi Martinez shouted, “…For Mbappe who is dead! ” However, recently it has been reported that FIFA has launched an investigation into the Argentina players’ celebrations.
How did Lionel Messi perform in the World Cup final?
Lionel Messi was inspirational for Argentina as he successfully led Argentine to its third World Cup title. Messi came up clutch in the final with two important goals in the final. Messi’s first goal came from the penalty spot when French forward Ousmane Dembele fouled Angel Di Maria in the French penalty box. The Argentine skipper made no mistake, as he scored past Hugo Lloris.
Angel Di Maria continued his run of scoring in the finals as he doubled Argentina’s lead in the first half. However, Mbappe, who remained quiet for most of the final, came to life as he scored twice within two minutes late in the second half. As the game stretched into extra time, Messi scored his second and Argentina’s third, after some excellent link-up play with Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in 108th minute.
Mbappe again leveled France 3-3, with a 118th-minute penalty. In the penalty shootout, Messi scored Argentina’s first penalty with immaculate ease. After France’s Coman and Tchouameni missed their penalties, Gonzalo Montiel scored Argentina’s winning penalty. Messi won the man of the match in the final and also won the Golden Boot award in the competition.
