Lionel Messi (35) was in the dressing room when Emiliano Martinez (30) requested a ‘minute of silence’ for Kylian Mbappé (24) shortly after the World Cup win against France. It was also in Buenos Aires when the goalkeeper again mocked Mbappe with a doll at the bus parade.
What was going on with Messi? Or did he not notice anything? If the Argentine world champion returns to training at PSG now, it could become a hot topic.
Paris owns the titanic trio of world football. Neymar (30) is the third man next to Messi and Mbappé. A mixture of respect and gossip.
The relationship between Neymar and Mbappé is particularly difficult.
Both signed in Paris in 2017, a month apart. Everything was idyllic in the beginning: the Brazilian was the big name and the Frenchman was happy to play with him. But the relationship gradually became strained. peak last summer.
PSG were ready to sell Neymar. Mbappé didn’t care as the Frenchman was puzzled by some of the Brazilian’s disciplinary “liberties”. Neymar, on the other hand, wanted to stay. But he didn’t like seeing his young teammate gain so much power after his contract extension.
The distrust increased in a match against Montpellier (5-2) in August, when Mbappé and Neymar tried to miss the same penalty.
The next morning, in front of the full squad, Marquinhos (28) and Sergio Ramos (36) had to intervene in the dispute.
Meanwhile, Neymar and Mbappé have concluded a sort of truce, with nothing in common. However, mistrust is sometimes noticed on the pitch when Neymar is annoyed by some of Mbappé’s game decisions. And viceversa.
In the middle is Messi. At the beginning of the season he played the role of mediator because he is good with both. He also gets along well with Neymar. The two do not share the same lifestyle but have been close friends since their time together in Barcelona.
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In Paris, Neymar quickly gave up his number 10 shirt for ‘Leo’. And the Brazilian has one quality that Messi likes: his humor makes him laugh.
Messi and Mbappe? Their relationship is further away.
But the World Cup finalists have a deep respect for each other. Messi knows very well that Mbappé is a great player. When he signed for Paris in the summer of 2021, he saw the Frenchman as a great asset to winning the Champions League. And Mbappé’s contract extension a year later was good news for him.
After arriving in Paris, Messi chatted with Mbappé for about ten minutes. However, their relationship has always remained professional. During training they exchange a lot about technique, running routes and passing.
They are rarely seen outside the training center and stadium, apart from a few group nights. Each star has its own circle of confidants.
On Messi’s side: Verratti, Paredes, Di María (both now at Juventus).
To Mbappe Seven: Hakimi, Ramos, Navas.
This mix of three very different mega stars has been working well on the court for a year and a half. Will Messi’s World Cup victory over Mbappé change anything?
You’ll see it in February when PSG face Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16.
