Mbappé on Messi and Qatar 2022 in chat with Jorge Valdano | OneFootball

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ is the great figure with whom Real Madrid wants to win the Champions League again. His goal-scoring power and footballing ability quickly enamored the White House, fulfilling the mutual dream of forming a historic partnership.

The Frenchman gave an extensive interview to Jorge Valdano that was published this Sunday by the Spanish newspaper As, and among other things, he spoke retrospectively about the 2022 Qatar World Cup final. «It was a crazy match that Argentina deserved to win because they were better throughout the game. We had a moment where we were better, but if you look at it entirely, it was deserved. It makes you sad, but you shouldn't forget it, because 2026 is coming, and we don't want to end up sad again», he acknowledged.

Looking ahead with the French National Team, the forward noted: «I hope to win the 2026 World Cup. It's a dream to lift the World Cup again. I've been lucky to do it once and reach the final in another. Losing hurts a lot, especially in a final; but I hope that, as they say, there are no two without three. So I want to reach a third final and this time, win».

He also reminisced about his childhood and, accepting the game of imagining what he would say to the 10-year-old Mbappé, he reflected: «I would tell him that he was right to have the dream of being a footballer. Because playing football is a privilege. It's a blessing to be able to play the best matches, the best competitions, against and with the best in history».

Regarding the present with the Merengue, he emphasized that «I am in the best club in the world, it's a privilege where I am, and I have a lot to give. I have much to continue and improve. I hope that someday people will dream of me, like with Cristiano Ronaldo».

His connection with Real Madrid was predestined, as he tried out there at 13 but decided to return to France. «When I arrived at Monaco. I was 14 or 15 years old, and I saw that everyone talked about me as something 'special.' They did before, but my parents protected me a lot. I knew I was different, but I didn't know if it was for better or worse. I was very innocent, very much a child. Then, in Monaco, I realized that I could be a professional, that I could be very good», he recounted.

And then came the stage with PSG: «I had the opportunity to be at home, in Paris, and it was a great opportunity for me. Seven incredible years. The pride of playing in the city where you were born is something very special. But of course, I kept the dream of playing for Real Madrid, because I had it since I was a child. And I fulfilled it last year. I am very happy».

LAMINE YAMAL

Asked about the brilliant emergence of Lamine Yamal, Spain's precocious star, Mbappé opined that «you can see he feels passion for football, and that's the only thing he should never lose. The rest... it's his life. People talk a lot about his personal life, and I think he should be left alone. We must accept that in football, he's a great player, but in life, he's an 18-year-old boy. And at that age, we all make mistakes. We should only look at what he does on the field; the rest is not very important, as long as it's not serious. He's a player with great talent, and I wish him much luck, that he lives the path he wants».

MESSI AND CRISTIANO RONALDO

When it came time to focus on the two icons of 21st-century football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Kiki confessed that «when you hear 'footballers who have written the history of football,' you think of Messi, of course».

Reflecting on his experience as a teammate of the Argentine at PSG, he recalled that «Messi arrived and was a completely normal person, respectful to everyone. And as a player, he's unique. When you have someone like that on your team and you're offensive, you just have to be close and watch everything he does. How he finishes, how he stops, how he touches. And I think being so close to him has helped me a lot to understand the game better».

He added that «it was a blessing to play with Leo Messi. I never thought I would do it in my career. Because my dream was to go to Real Madrid, I never thought of going to Barcelona, and since I thought he would always play there... I knew I would have the chance to play against him, not with him. But I did, and it was very special. I learned a lot from him, and I want to thank him. Those were two very rich years. It's a golden opportunity to have such a special player close to you».

Finally, he dedicated praises to Cristiano Ronaldo, who «has always been a model, an example for me. I'm lucky to talk to him, to get advice from him. He helped me. At Real Madrid, he is number one, the reference player. People, even now, dream of him. But I want to make my own path. I hope people dream of me, too. That it becomes a historic moment for me and for Real Madrid».

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.