It is safe to say that Lionel Messi‘s two-year stint in Paris was far from his best. Looking back at those two years Kylian Mbappe, the young French soccer superstar, recently made an interesting claim about his former teammate Lionel Messi. According to Mbappe, Messi changed his game after joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

During their time together in PSG, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi built a promising chemistry. Even after Messi left Paris Mbappe still holds utmost respect for him and recently downplayed himself while calling Messi the deserved winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or. It is in this context that Mbappe’s recent claim becomes all the more intriguing.

Kylian Mbappe reveals how Lionel Messi changed his game at PSG

In a recent interview, Mbappe shed light on the impact Messi had on his own game. The 24-year-old forward stated, “Even the greatest have had to change things. I played with Leo (Messi). Leo, he changed his game”. The Frenchman further elaborated, saying, “It wasn’t the same when he was in Barcelona as when he was in Paris, and that’s what kept him winning”.

While it is true that Messi’s performances in PSG colors did not match the exceptional standards he had set during his time at Barcelona, there were still glimpses of his brilliance. Despite the lack of success in European competitions, Messi and Mbappe formed a tantalizing partnership that proved fruitful for the team in their domestic league, winning the Ligue 1 title in both seasons.

Mbappe’s words suggest that Messi’s arrival at PSG forced him to adapt his style of play to achieve this success. While Mbappe did not provide specific details on how exactly Messi altered his game, it is fair to assume that the French striker’s presence demanded a different approach.

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Also, another intriguing aspect of Mbappe’s statement is the subtle suggestion that Messi’s altered game could potentially be a persuasive argument for his 8th Ballon d’Or win.

What Mbappe had to say after Messi lifted his 8th Ballon d’Or?

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe had an extraordinary campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Their outstanding performances earned them nominations for this year’s Ballon d’Or, but it was ultimately Messi who emerged as the winner. While some critics have questioned this decision, Mbappe believes that his former PSG teammate deserved the award.

During a press conference, Kylian expressed, “Messi had to win it, he won the World Cup, he won the Ballon d’Or. Haaland is also having a great season, me too… but next to winning a World Cup it doesn’t weigh much”.  As La Pulga continues to astound fans around the world, one can only wonder what other changes he will bring to his game in the future.

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What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.