France striker Kylian Mbappe confirmed that he really misses the time playing with Lionel Messi at PSG.
Previously, Mbappe also affirmed that Messi deserved the eighth Ballon d’Or. He said that his former Argentine teammate is one of the best players, if not “the best in history”.
In 75 matches for PSG from 2021 to 2023, Messi scored 32 goals and assisted 35 times. Most of his assists were directed at Mbappe. In PSG’s 7-1 win over Lille on August 21, 2022, Messi made a half-court pass to help Mbappe open the scoring in the eighth second, thereby setting a record for the fastest goal in Ligue 1 history. In the 2-1 win over Angers on April 21, 2023, the Argentine striker continued to pass half the field to his teammate wearing the number 7 shirt to score.
Aside from their time together at PSG, Messi and Mbappe are also remembered for their clash in the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France. The two teams drew 3-3 after 120 minutes, after Messi scored twice and Mbappe scored a hat-trick. Argentina won 4-2 in the penalty shootout.
Messi won two Ligue 1s and a French Super Cup in his two seasons with PSG. Some French fans were unhappy with Messi’s failure to help PSG win the Champions League, which he won four times with Barca. Many other French fans also reacted to the Argentine striker after his failure at the 2022 World Cup.
After his contract with PSG expired in the summer, Messi moved to the United States to play for Inter Miami. Just a month later, he helped the team that finished second to last in the MLS Eastern Conference win the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami was only founded in 2018 and the Leagues Cup was their first title.
On October 30, Messi set a record for winning his eighth Ballon d’Or. The 36-year-old striker scored 462 points in a poll by journalists, while Erling Haaland ranked second with 357 points. Mbappe ranked third with 270 points. Previously, Messi won seven Ballons d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
After Messi and Neymar left PSG , Mbappe has been left to carry the attack almost single-handedly. The 25-year-old has scored 22 goals in his first 23 games of the season, but the Parc des Princes side have yet to impress. Had Milan not beaten Newcastle in the final round of the Champions League group stage, PSG would have been eliminated. Mbappe and his teammates finished Group F in second place with eight points, just ahead of Milan on goal difference and three points ahead of Newcastle.
