Cynthia Ezegwu
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has described himself as “lucky” to have shared the pitch with Lionel Messi during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain, praising the Argentine superstar for his humility and professionalism.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish television channel Movistar Fútbol on Sunday, the 26-year-old French captain reflected on his two-year partnership with Messi between 2021 and 2023 at PSG, calling the experience a “dream come true.”
“I was lucky enough to play with Leo Messi. I never thought I’d play alongside him because my dream was always Real Madrid,” Mbappe said. “I never considered joining Barcelona. I was really surprised, because everything was so normal in the dressing room.”
Mbappe went on to commend Messi’s character off the pitch, noting that despite global fame, the Argentine remained grounded and respectful.
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“When you’re famous, a lot of people label you, both as a person and as a player. But Messi is completely down to earth; he respects everyone. And he’s a unique player,” he added.
Mbappe’s comments come as he continues to settle into life at Real Madrid, having joined the Spanish giants on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 — fulfilling his lifelong ambition to play at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His move ended a glittering seven-year spell at PSG, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances. During their time together, Messi provided 20 assists for Mbappe, forming one of Europe’s most potent attacking duos.