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Kylian Mbappe calls Lionel Messi ‘ridiculous’ as he shares PSG training story

Originally posted on HITC | By Filipe Guedes | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 5:28 PM ET

Kylian Mbappe has shared dressing rooms with some of football’s most celebrated names. From Neymar to Karim Benzema, his career has consistently placed him alongside elite talent.

He has also built his own identity within that group. A long-time admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé has often spoken about his influences growing up.

That background makes his latest comments stand out. When asked to identify the most impressive player he has seen in training, his answer was direct: Lionel Messi.

Kylian Mbappe calls Lionel Messi ‘ridiculous’ after PSG training experience

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Speaking on The Bridge YouTube show alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Achraf Hakimi, Mbappe pointed to Messi as the player who impressed him the most.

The Frenchman brought up some memories of his PSG time to explain his answer.

“Messi is ridiculous. It’s not the same thing [when compared to Neymar]. He does everything right. I’m going to tell you a story,” Mbappe began by saying.

“We were in Paris, we were finishing up, and in Paris, me and Ney, we were at the top of the heap in world football. He just came in and took ten shots.

“Me and Ney, out of 10 shots, we scored six or seven. He shot nine times, he scored the same goal nine times.

“It was the end of practice, he’s a little tired, like he was just passing the ball to the net, like he wasn’t shooting, he was just passing to the net.”

Mbappe’s words highlight something that is not new: even among elite players, Messi’s precision and consistency stood apart.

Everyone who watched the Argentine No.10 up close should be considered blessed. He is in his closing chapters and his absence will be widely felt in the football world.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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