Kylian Mbappe Makes Feelings Clear on Messi-Ronaldo Debate

One of the most enduring debates in sports is determining who the greatest of all time - better known as the “GOAT” - truly is.

Every sport has its own version of the discussion, but in soccer, few debates are bigger than the one between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

With their vastly different playing styles, backgrounds, and career paths, the argument remains as divisive as ever. Ahead of next week’s FIFAWorld Cup, France superstar Kylian Mbappe, who has shared the field with Messi and competed against Ronaldo, offered his perspective on the two legends.

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"Messi or Ronaldo? I’ve played with both!” Mbappe said. “Well, I played with Messi and I played against Ronaldo. Cristiano is my idol, but I also played with Leo. And having played against both, the truth is they are really different. They aren’t the same.

“The rivalry between them was good because everything completely opposes them. You know: [Ronaldo] right-footed/[Messi] left-footed, [Ronaldo] tall/[Messi] short, [Messi] more elegant/[Ronaldo] more raw, [Ronaldo] more explosive/[Messi] with more vision and playmaking.

“If I agree with the saying, ‘One is hard work, the other is pure talent?’ That is a take from someone who doesn’t play football. In all my debates, I say this. No, that’s a take from a guy who doesn’t play football. Because if you can sit there and tell me that Ronaldo has no talent, or that Messi doesn’t work hard, it means you’ve never in your life put on boots to go train every single day. I just can’t understand how someone who has put on boots to train every day could think that way."

Messi and Ronaldo are both set to make history at this year’s World Cup, as they will become the first players ever to appear in six World Cup tournaments during their careers.

Mbappe will also be one of the tournament’s biggest stars to watch as he looks to lead France back to the top of the soccer world. France is seeking redemption after its heartbreaking loss to Messi and Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 11:43 AM.