Kylian Mbappe launches passionate defence of 'best player in history' Lionel Messi

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has hit back at critics of former teammate Lionel Messi.

Mbappe and Messi's two-year spell together in the French capital has come to an end, with the Argentine announcing last week that he would be heading to MLS side Inter Miami when his contract expires at the end of June.

Though Messi essentially cemented his status as the best football player of all time with victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his form at club level has dipped since he was forced out of Barcelona in 2021.

PSG brought in Messi in hope of finally winning the UEFA Champions League, but they were eliminated at the last 16 stage in both years with the forward on their books.

Following their European eliminations to Real Madrid in 2022 and then Bayern Munich in March, Messi was jeered by PSG supporters and he leaves France without having made the desired impact at the club. Heading to Inter Miami as opposed to Barcelona was also a move criticised by the French media.

READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI'S MOVE TO INTER MIAMI

But speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Mbappe launched a stern defence of Messi, hailing him as possibly the game's greatest ever player.

"We're talking about potentially the best player in the history of football. It's never good news when someone like Messi leaves," Mbappe said.

"Personally I haven't really understood why so many people were relieved that he was leaving. We're talking about Messi, he should be respected - but instead, he didn't get the respect he deserved in France. It's a shame, but that's how it went. He'll have to be replaced as best as possible."

Mbappe's own future at PSG remains uncertain. 90min reported on Monday that he communicated to the club he would not be activating an extension clause in his contract, which is set to expire in 2024. PSG would prefer to sell him than lose him for free.

However, Mbappe's stance appeared to wildly fling back-and-forth over the next couple of days, insisting he has not asked to leave and join Real Madrid.

Unsurprisingly, PSG have been left wildly unimpressed by the saga.

LISTEN NOW

On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Toby Cudworth is joined by Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh to discuss the latest transfer news. On the agenda is future of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi's shock move to Inter Miami, Declan Rice's proposed Arsenal deal, Tottenham's summer plans and more.

If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!