“You are the best” – Kylian Mbappe appears to change opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate with Instagram message

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Kylian Mbappe has seemingly changed his stance in the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo debate, recently hailing the Argentine as the world’s best player.

Kylian Mbappe’s devotion to Cristiano Ronaldo is no secret. In a 2016 interview, his father confirmed that Mbappe, as a kid, spent hours studying Ronaldo watching his videos on YouTube.

In December 2022, Mbappe’s former PSG teammate Abdou Diallo backed up the claim, revealing that Mbappe thought that Cristiano Ronaldo was untouchable. Diallo said (via The Mirror):

“Cristiano Ronaldo is literally everything to Kylian Mbappe. If you mention Lionel Messi against Cristiano, Mbappe will debate with you for at least an hour. For him, Cristiano is untouchable.”

However, if his recent Instagram post is anything to go by, Mbappe has changed his stance in the ever-raging debate between Ronaldo and Messi, dubbing Messi as the best player.

Taking to Instagram after the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner clinched 'The Best' FIFA Men's Player Award on 27 February, Mbappe wrote:

“Another trophy at home. 🫡🏆 Big congratulations to @leomessi you are #TheBest 👑”

Messi was named the best player with 52 votes, helped along by his stellar World Cup campaign in Qatar last year. The 35-year-old scored seven goals and claimed three assists in seven games to help La Albiceleste to their first FIFA World Cup win in 36 years. He also won the Ligue 1 title with PSG, scoring six goals and claiming 15 assists in 26 league games.

Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot in Qatar with eight goals, came second in the race for the prestigious award with 44 votes. Both Messi and Mbappe were also included in the FIFPro World XI.

Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, whose team crashed out in the quarterfinals after losing to Morocco, was not in the running.

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Saudi Arabian club prepared to make Lionel Messi the highest-paid footballer in history

Encouraged by Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr, Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad are reportedly plotting to bring 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi to the country. According to Spanish journalist Joan Fontes, Al-Ittihad could make a jaw-dropping offer to sign Messi in the summer.

As per Fontes, Al-Ittihad are prepared to offer Messi an €88 million/season contract, which would eclipse Ronaldo’s €72 million/season deal with Al-Nassr. The two-year contract would make Messi the highest-paid footballer in history.

Lionel Messi, who joined PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2021, will see his contract expire in June. It's believed that the Parisians want to extend Messi’s stay in the French capital, but the superstar is yet to put pen to paper.