Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s relationship has been compromised by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has dismissed claims that there is a feud between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe following the 2022 World Cup.
Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar earlier this month, defeating Mbappe’s France on penalties in the final.
The PSG forwards were without doubt the two best players at the tournament, with Messi winning the Golden Ball and Mbappe claiming the Golden Boot after his hat-trick in the final took his tally to eight goals ahead of his club teammate.
Following the game, the 24-year-old Frenchman was understandable distraught and has been the subject of much abuse from Argentina fans, instigated by their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez whose antics have been widely condemned.
Mbappe and Messi were also pictured celebrating in each other’s faces as they scored in the final, and all this has lead to suggestions that the pair are not on good terms.
But according to Galtier this is not the case at all, as he insists his star players get on just fine.
Discussing the aftermath of the World Cup in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, the manager said: ‘I would focus on the relationship between them.
Messi and Mbappe are hoping to win PSG’s first UCL trophy this season (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
‘It wasn’t Leo Messi winding anybody else up. What I saw after the final, what I have experienced, is there is no reason to mix these things up because the goalkeeper’s behaviour is down to him.
‘What matters to me is the relationship between the players. Kylian Mbappe had a very good attitude, despite losing.
‘Of course he was very disappointed, but he did that in a classy way. He congratulated Leo Messi and that is a very good thing for the club and for the team.’
Mbappe came very close to leaving PSG for Real Madrid on a free over the summer only to shockingly sign a new contract, but there is speculation that he is unhappy in Paris with the club supposedly not fulfilling promises they made to him.
He has already returned to training with his club and is expected to play on Wednesday when their Ligue 1 campaign resumes against Strasbourg.
Messi meanwhile is not expected back until the new year and Galtier will be hoping that his players can put their differences aside and finally fire PSG to their first Champions League triumph at the end of the season.
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