INTERNATIONAL
PSG star Kylian Mbappé praises Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for evolution
The France captain sidestepped questions about his future but discussed how Messi had changed as a player in an interview on French TV.
After waiting five months to hear from Kylian Mbappé, he spoke to the media for the second time in quick succession following France’s record-breaking 14-0 win over Gibraltar on Saturday. On Sunday, the Paris Saint-Germain star spoke to Téléfoot, a soccer program on French TV channel TF1, preferring to focus on the French national team rather than his future and praising former teammate Lionel Messi for his longevity.
Mbappé: “Focus on France, not my future”
Two days after refusing to answer questions regarding his future in a pre-match press conference before the Euro 2024 qualifier, it was a topic he again sought to avoid, instead preferring to focus on his on-field performances. “I want people to talk about the national team, we have had some very good results. I want people to talk about that and not about me. There will be time to talk about that, it will be resolved one day. My future was something I didn’t want to talk about, I already did it in June and it took on too much importance compared to the France national team,” the forward declared.
What did the France captain say about Messi?
The 24-year-old was then asked about how he had evolved on the field and brought up former PSG teammate Messi, who he says has become a different type of player in recent times to keep playing at elite level. “Even the best players have had to change. I played with Leo (Messi). Leo changed his game. He was not the same player when he was at Barcelona as he was in Paris and that is what enabled him to keep winning.
“Soccer dictates how long you play for. If you don’t change, soccer moves forward and you fall into oblivion. Even the very best players have had to change,” the France captain later reiterated.
Mbappé reaches 300 career goals
Mbappé, who hit his 300th career goal in a hat-trick against Gibraltar in Nice, later discussed his “disagreement” with PSG coach Luis Enrique, who criticised his performance in the last Ligue 1 game at Reims, in which the attacker also scored three times. “My teammates and coaches always want more from me. I am very happy that so much is expected of me. I want to keep progressing and help my team the best I can.”