Messi Responds to Mbappe’s Comments on Euros vs. World Cup: “It Leaves Out Too Many World Champions”
Messi Counters Mbappe’s Claim About European Dominance
13.06.2024: Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain, has responded to his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe’s recent remarks about the relative difficulty of winning the Euros compared to the World Cup. Mbappe’s comments, which suggested that European teams face tougher competition, have sparked controversy, especially among South American football enthusiasts.
In a candid interview with ESPN Argentina, Messi said, “Mbappe mentioned that South American teams don’t face the same level of competition as European teams. Everyone values their own competitions. The Euro Cup is very important, but it leaves out Argentina, a three-time world champion; Brazil, a five-time world champion; and Uruguay, a two-time world champion. To claim that the Euro Cup is the hardest to win dismisses many world champions.”
Mbappe’s Previous Remarks and Messi’s Rebuttal
Mbappe, now playing for Real Madrid, had previously taken a swipe at South American teams in May 2022, stating, “In South America, football is not as advanced as in Europe, that’s why Europeans always win the World Cup.” This sentiment was reiterated ahead of the 2024 European Championships, where Mbappe noted, “I consider the Euros more complicated than the World Cup. Tactically, it is similar football, and we are used to playing against each other.”
Messi, however, highlighted the diverse challenges of the World Cup. “In the World Cup, the best teams are there, all the world champions are generally there. That’s why everyone wants to be world champion,” he emphasized.
Context and Historical Performance
Interestingly, Messi’s Argentina defeated Mbappe’s France in a thrilling penalty shootout to win their third World Cup title in Doha, Qatar, in 2022. This victory contradicts Mbappe’s earlier assertion about European supremacy in recent World Cups.
Mbappe, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, recently expressed his desire to add the European Championship to his accolades. “I want to win the Euros. It’s my first competition as captain, and it’s really important for me. It’s another opportunity to write the history of my country,” he told CNN.
Upcoming Tournaments
Mbappe and the French team will face Austria, Netherlands, and Poland in Group D as they begin their Euro 2024 campaign next week. Meanwhile, Messi and Argentina will defend their Copa America title in the United States this summer.