Lionel Messi Names the Real Star of 2022 World Cup: It’s Not Him!

Lionel Messi got the crowning moment of his career when he finally lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar last year. In what was a nerve-wracking final, Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties after the two sides remained level at 3-3 after extra time. However, according to Lionel Messi, he was not the real star of the World Cup 2022 final. 

While Messi got his hands on the World Cup, Kylian Mbappe, his Paris Saint Germain teammate, stole the show. Mbappe remained dormant for 79 minutes during the World Cup final. However, Mbappe sparked into life with a quick-fire brace in the 80th and 81st minutes. Messi once again gave Argentina the lead as he scored in the 108th minute in the extra time.

However, Mbappe again in the 118th minute and became the second-ever player to score a hat trick in the World Cup final after England’s Geoff Hurst had done so in 1966. Although Argentina won the penalty shootout thanks to Emiliano Martinez’s heroics, Messi couldn’t help but appreciate Mbappe’s performance in the final. While speaking to PSG, Messi said, “It really was a breathtaking final.”

Geoff Hurst and Kylian Mbappe.

The only two men to score World Cup final hat tricks 🤝 pic.twitter.com/rK6qPNDVke

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 18, 2022

Messi continued, “It was crazy how the match went. Kylian scored three incredible goals, in a final! Not being able to be champion after that was crazy. But he’s already won it too, and he knows what it’s like to be world champion.” However, Mbappe also didn’t leave Qatar empty-handed. The French talisman won the World Cup Golden Boot for scoring 8 goals in the tournament.

Lionel Messi didn’t discuss the 2022 World Cup final with Kylian Mbappe

While Lionel Messi did talk about the World Cup final in his recent interview with PSG, he didn’t do the same with Kylian Mbappe. During an interview last month, Messi revealed that he didn’t discuss the World Cup 2022 final with Mbappe. The former Barcelona star also revealed that both players have strictly refrained from talking about the final. 

During the interview, Messi was asked about his relationship with Mbappe after the World Cup. Messi revealed that he had only talked about the time he spent in Argentina after the final. Messi said, “Yes, we talked about the game, the festivities, how people had lived in Argentina in those days that I had been on vacation and the festivities we had.“

Leo Messi on his relationship with Kylian Mbappé since the World Cup:

“On the contrary, the truth is that there is no problem with Kylian.” 🇦🇷🤝🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/5TAK5YcVK4

— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) February 2, 2023

“No, even one does not want to talk and bring up the subject of the final and talk about it. I was on the other side too, I had to lose a world final as well. That’s why I don’t want to talk about it either. But the truth is that there is no problem with Kylian (Mbappe), quite the opposite.” Messi and Mbappe do seem to have shut down any rumors of bad blood between them.

After the World Cup, Messi and Mbappe’s on-field chemistry seems to have gotten even better. Both the stars have been in fine form after the World Cup break, contributing to PSG’s success in the absence of the injured Neymar.