“I definitely miss my time playing with Leo,” Mbappe told Amazon Prime Sport on January 4. “For a player like me who likes to attack space, when he’s around, I definitely get the ball. That’s a luxury that almost only he can provide. Also, playing with him That’s so special.”
In 75 matches played for PSG from 2021 to 2023, Messi scored 32 goals and assisted 35 times. Most of his assists go towards Mbappe. In PSG’s 7-1 win over Lille on August 21, 2022, it was Messi who passed halfway across the field to help Mbappe open the score in the eighth second, thereby setting a record for the fastest goal in Ligue 1 history. Coming to the 2-1 win over Angers On April 21, 2023, the Argentine striker continued to pass halfway across the field for his teammate wearing shirt number 7 to score.
In addition to their time as teammates at PSG, Messi and Mbappe are also remembered for their confrontation in the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France. The two teams drew 3-3 in 120 minutes, after Messi scored a double and Mbappe scored a hat-trick. In the penalty shootout, Argentina won 4-2.
Messi won two Ligue 1 and one French Super Cup, in two seasons playing for PSG. Some French fans are unhappy that Messi cannot help PSG win the Champions League, where he won four times with Barca. Many other French fans also reacted to the Argentine striker after his defeat at the 2022 World Cup.
After his contract with PSG ended in the summer, Messi went to the US to play for Inter Miami. Just a month later, he helped the team ranked penultimate in the MLS Eastern Division win the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami was just founded in 2018 and the Leagues Cup is the first title.
On October 30, Messi set a record for winning his eighth Golden Ball. The 36-year-old striker scored 462 points in the journalists’ poll, while Erling Haaland ranked second with 357 points. Mbappe ranked third with 270 points. Previously, Messi won seven Golden Balls in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
After Messi and Neymar left PSG , Mbappe almost alone shouldered the attack. The 25-year-old striker scored 22 goals in the first 23 matches of the season, but the Parc des Princes team has not yet convinced viewers. If Milan had not won against Newcastle in the final round of the Champions League group stage, PSG might have been eliminated. Mbappe and his teammates finished Group F with second place and eight points, just a sub-index ahead of Milan and three points ahead of Newcastle.
