Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Saturday, 06 June 2026, 12:58 / Updated Saturday, 06 June 2026 13:00
Mbappe was Messi's teammate during their time at PSG (2021-2023). He faced Ronaldo in the Real Madrid – PSG clashes, played before the Portuguese left for Juventus (2018).
Kylian Mbappe: “Ronaldo was my idol, Messi was my colleague”
“I played with both of them. Specifically, I played with Messi and against Ronaldo. Cristiano is my idol, but Leo was my teammate. Considering that I faced both of them, they are really different and they are not the same.
The rivalry between them was good because they are completely different in every way: right foot (Ronaldo) versus left foot (Messi), tall (Ronaldo) versus short (Messi), strength (Ronaldo) versus elegance (Messi), explosiveness (Ronaldo) versus vision (Messi). The claim that one represents hard work and the other natural talent?
That's what people who don't play football say. Because if you tell me Ronaldo doesn't have talent or Messi doesn't work hard, it means you've never put on football boots in your life to train every day. I don't understand how someone who has practiced football can think this way,” said Mbappe, according to sportal.bg.
The French international also revisited the final lost at the 2022 World Cup after the penalty shoot-out against Argentina. “That final had it all: spectacle, competition, twists and turns, penalties, drama, countless goals and incredible intensity.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe
Football fans who watched the final in Qatar can say it was the best. For us, however, it ended badly, so we will always have a bitter taste. I also never rewatched the match tape. If I did, it might stir up some old demons in me. Yes, we lost, but we have to move on,” said the France captain
