When a teenage Lionel Messi, wearing the No. 19 shirt, scored his first World Cup goal in 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro, Kylian Mbappe was a seven-year-old putting up posters of Zinedine Zidane in his small room in Bondy, a working-class northeastern suburb of Paris. Mbappe dreamed of becoming a footballer one day, but little did he know that two decades later, he would be competing with Messi for the title of the most decorated international footballer of the 21st century.
Club Achievements vs International Glory
Messi, with four Champions League titles and seven Ballon d'Or awards, is far ahead of Mbappe in club football achievements. However, when it comes to representing their countries, there is a remarkable symmetry between their careers. Messi and Mbappe were not necessarily destined to be rivals. With an 11-year age gap, Messi's primary competitor for much of his career was Cristiano Ronaldo, while Mbappe's fight for the crown of the 'next big thing' was with Erling Haaland.
A Complicated Relationship at PSG
The fact that Messi and Mbappe spent a couple of years together at Paris Saint-Germain might have suggested a guru-disciple relationship, but that was not the case. By the time Messi arrived at PSG after his best years at Barcelona, Mbappe had already made a name for himself. As an 18-year-old, he tore through Argentina in the 2018 World Cup, scoring twice to help France win the title. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mbappe, a self-confessed Ronaldo fan, criticized South American football, claiming it was "not developed enough" compared to Europe. Messi did not take this well, though he kept his anger private, channeling it into the World Cup final.
The Epic 2022 World Cup Final
In arguably the greatest World Cup final ever, Messi's brace trumped Mbappe's hat-trick, and Argentina's wild celebrations, led by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, made Mbappe look like a disappointed child. In the four years since, the two have taken different paths. Messi, at the end of his career, is enjoying his time at Inter Miami, while Mbappe chose the more demanding route at Real Madrid. Both have been their teams' best players, but Messi's 90 goals in 104 games for the American club puts him in a better position than Mbappe.
Mbappe's Challenges at Real Madrid
The 27-year-old Mbappe has done what he was brought to Real Madrid to do, scoring 87 goals in 95 games, but the club's poor form over the last two years, going trophyless, has made life difficult for him. His lack of defensive contribution is a hot topic in world football, though it was never his strength. Additionally, his reportedly strained relationships with some teammates contrast sharply with Messi's situation at Inter Miami, where he is surrounded by friends.
International Form and Team Dynamics
However, things change for Mbappe when he wears the France jersey. He is the revered captain, but the team is not overly dependent on him. Even if Mbappe is unavailable, France has a Ballon d'Or winner in Ousmane Dembele and a host of versatile players to step up. Argentina, too, has moved beyond its Messi-dependence. With Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Nico Paz, and Alexis Mac Allister developing into excellent players, Messi has the freedom to work his magic. So, when news of Messi's muscle injury while playing for Inter Miami emerged last week, there was no sense of panic among Argentina's global fan base.
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
Given the quality and current form of the Latin American giants, they should be in the business end of the World Cup. The same applies to France, one of the most consistent European teams over the last eight years. The football world hopes that these two teams meet again, providing a clear winner in the Mbappe-Messi duel—a clash of generations that has not received as much attention as it deserves.
