Kylian Mbapp may idolize Cristiano Ronaldo, but he experienced Lionel Messi‘s talent up close every single day – something that left him completely amazed during their time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He recently revealed this on the podcast “The Bridge”.

What Did Mbapp Say About Messi?

Mbapp was asked about the player he has trained with whom he considers a true football phenomenon. The France national team star has shared the pitch with several world-class players throughout his career.

During the podcast, which also featured Aurlien Tchouamni and Achraf Hakimi, the Real Madrid forward joked that “Messi is cheating,” before being asked if Messi is more technical than Neymar. He replied, “It’s not the same,” but added that “Messi does everything well.”

He then shared an anecdote that highlights Messi’s finishing ability and technical brilliance. Mbapp experienced Messi’s greatness firsthand as a teammate – and even as a reference point during training sessions.

“I’ll tell you a story. We were in Paris doing finishing drills, and at that time PSG was at the top of world football. We would take 10 shots… Neymar and I would score 6 or 7 goals. Messi would shoot 9 times and score the exact same goal every single time, like it was a kids’ training session. He looked tired, as if he was just passing the ball into the net. I watched him and just couldn’t understand it,” Mbapp said.

Mbapp and Messi were teammates at PSG for two seasons, following the Argentine’s shocking departure from FC Barcelona – a move that stunned the football world, as many believed Messi would spend his entire career with the Spanish giants.