Mbappé recalls Messi's training ground mastery in revealing podcast anecdote
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has offered a rare glimpse into Lionel Messi's otherworldly talent during their time as teammates at Paris Saint-Germain, describing a training session where the Argentine's precision left him in awe. Speaking on the podcast of his club and international colleague Aurélien Tchouaméni, The Bridge, Mbappé recounted a finishing drill that underscored Messi's unique quality.
Mbappé, a long-time admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo, has frequently praised Messi, with whom he shared the PSG attack for two seasons. "Messi, it's outrageous, really. It's not the same thing (as Neymar). He does everything well," Mbappé stated on the podcast. To illustrate his point, the French captain narrated a specific anecdote from a post-training routine at the club's Camp des Loges base.
"I'll tell you a story, we were doing finishing practice in Paris," Mbappé explained. "In Paris, Ney and I, we were in the top bracket. He [Messi] arrived, we took 10 shots, Ney and I scored 6 or 7. Leo took 9 shots, he scored the same goal 9 times. All passes into the net. I looked at him like 'you don't understand or what?'. It's outrageous." This recollection highlights the clinical, repeatable technique that defined Messi's game even in informal settings.
The trio of Mbappé, Messi, and Neymar formed one of the most formidable attacking lines in European football during their stint together from 2021 to 2023. Despite domestic dominance, their partnership ultimately failed to deliver the UEFA Champions League title that PSG's Qatari owners have relentlessly pursued. Messi departed the French capital last summer, joining MLS side Inter Miami after his contract expired.
Mbappé's comments come as he settles into a new chapter of his own career at Real Madrid, following his high-profile free transfer this summer. His reflections on Messi provide context to a period of immense expectation at PSG, where assembling superstar talent did not always translate into the desired continental success. The anecdote serves as a testament to Messi's enduring legacy, even from a former teammate now at a club historically linked with his great rival, Ronaldo.
The podcast appearance is part of a broader media engagement from Mbappé, who has been more vocal in interviews since his move to Spain was finalized. While focused on a past teammate, his words reinforce the universal respect Messi commands among his peers, irrespective of club allegiances. For PSG, the era of the 'MNM' forward line now belongs to the past, as the club rebuilds under a different philosophy under manager Luis Enrique.
