Lionel Messi has insisted teammate Kylian Mbappe will be among the best in the world for "years to come", amid questions over the Frenchman's relationship with fellow Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar.
Mbappe's comments after France's victory over Austria last week were interpreted as a dig at Neymar by some, with the former Monaco man explaining he is able to play with more freedom for country than for club. The pair had also reportedly fallen out over penalty duties at the Parc des Princes.
Neymar was asked about Mbappe while away on international duty with Brazil, and his response didn't exactly ease tensions. However, Messi was in no doubt over his opinion of the World Cup winner.
“Kylian is a different player, a beast who is very strong in one-on-one, who goes into space, who is very fast, who scores a lot of goals," Messi told TUDN Mexico (via Get French Football News ). "He is a complete player and he has proved it for years, and in the years to come, he will certainly be among the best.”
Mbappe scored for France in their 2-0 victory over Austria on Thursday night. He was less successful on Sunday, though, drawing a blank as Les Bleus were beaten by Denmark in Copenhagen, only narrowly escaping UEFA Nations League relegation in the process.
Messi's Argentina, meanwhile, are due to play Jamaica this week in their final warm-up game before the World Cup. The 2014 finalists, who were eliminated by Mbappe's French team four years ago, beat Honduras 3-0 over the weekend with Messi on target twice.
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"How they ask me to play here is different," Mbappe said after the Austria game, in which he and fellow striker Olivier Giroud found the net. "With France, I have much more freedom than at PSG.
"The coach knows that there is a '9' like Giroud and I can move and go to the space that creates. In Paris it is different, they ask me to play pivot
Mbappe was still a teenager at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when he enjoyed a breakout international tournament. He scored four times at the tournament, including two in a 4-3 victory over Argentina in the round of 16 and one in the final as France beat Croatia to lift the title.
After going unbeaten in their qualifying campaign for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, France picked up just five points from six Nations League games. They finished just a point clear of relegated Austria, with Croatia topping the group ahead of Denmark.
Didier Deschamps' men will kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia on November 22, before taking on Denmark and Tunisia in their other group games. Messi and Argentina could await in the last 16 again if one team wins their group and the other finishes second.
