Kylian Mbappe has played a key role in helping France reach their second successive World Cup final (AFP via Getty)
France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni believes Kylian Mbappe is better than Lionel Messi ahead the World Cup final on Sunday.
Mbappe and Messi, who have been teammates at Paris Saint-Germain for over a year, will be on opposing sides in Qatar as France face Argentina for the World Cup trophy.
Both players are also vying to win the Golden Boot as they have each scored five goals in the tournament so far.
Many believe Messi has cemented his status as the best player in the world following his influential performances for Argentina at the World Cup, the most recent of which was a masterful display in the 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi final earlier this week.
But Tchouameni believes France’s 23-year-old talisman Mbappe should now be considered the world’s best ahead of Messi.
‘For me it’s Kylian,’ Tchouameni said after France’s 2-0 win over Morocco in the semi final on Wednesday evening.
‘For me it’s Mbappe and I want him to prove that in the next game.’
Lionel Messi has said Sunday’s final will be his last-ever game at a World Cup (NurPhoto via Getty)
Meanwhile, France forward Antoine Griezmann says his teammates have been keeping tabs on Argentina’s performances at the World Cup ahead of Sunday’s final.
‘Any team with Messi in is a totally different proposition,’ said Griezmann.
‘We have seen practically all of their matches at this World Cup.
More: Sport
‘We have seen Argentina play, we know how they play. They are a difficult team to play and they seem to be on top form.
‘Of course, not only Messi, they have a strong side around him so we know it is going to be a tough game and they will have a lot of support in the crowd.
‘We will get back to work tomorrow, focused on it, how we can hurt them, how we can defend against them. We will be well prepared.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
World Cup 2022: your FAQs answered
‘I want him to prove that in the next game.’
