‘He is a complete player’

Lionel Messi and his successor Kylian Mbappe square off on Sunday with the Paris Saint-Germain teammates to battle it out for the World Cup.

There may have been a bit of bad blood between the pair but, make no mistake, the two forwards in awe of each other’s qualities on the pitch.

Both players top the Golden Ball standings in Qatar with five goals, though Argentina great Messi has chipped in with three assists – one more than Mbappe.

The duo have undoubtedly been two of the top players in the Middle East where they have justified their tags as elite footballers.

Some fans will be hoping that the master can give the student one final lesson, in what will be Messi’s last World Cup appearance, to get his hands on the trophy for the first time at the age of 35.

France star Mbappe already has a World Cup win to his name after starring in Russia four years ago where he became the fourth youngest player in history to win the trophy at 19.

And despite Sunday’s showpiece being dubbed as Messi vs Mbappe, previous interviews from the pair show there will be no ill feelings towards one another on the pitch.

That may come as a surprise to fans with rumours regularly circulating about fallouts within the PSG dressing room as a result of inflated egos.

Though he did insist in September that he prefers to play with France rather than at PSG due to being given ‘more freedom’ under Didier Deschamps.

Mbappe declared: “I have a lot more freedom here. The coach knows that there is a number nine like Olivier [Giroud] who occupies the defence. 

“Me, I can walk around, go into space, ask for balls… in Paris, there isn’t that, it’s different, I’m asked to do the pivot.”

However despite those comments, Messi came out two days later and waxed lyrical over his teammate where he tipped him for huge success.

He told TUDN Mexico: “Kylian is a different player, a beast who is very strong in one-on-one, who goes into space, who is very fast, who scores a lot of goals.

“He is a complete player and he has proved it for years, and in the years to come, he will certainly be among the best.”

As for his personal relationship with Mbappe, Messi has stated that the two are great friends.

Messi revealed in 2021: “[It’s been] super good. In addition Kylian speaks perfect Spanish and with a player like that it is easy to understand each other.

“The good relationship off the field makes things easier and although it is still too early to draw conclusions, I am sure it will go well.

“It is something that will come naturally and as we play games together we will get to know each other better.”