Kylian Mbappe says he ‘miss a lot' playing with Lionel Messi

Expressing his heartfelt wish, French forward Kylian Mbappe said he missed a lot playing with Argentina’s star soccer player Lionel Messi.

Mbappe outlined the aspects he misses most about Messi following the forward's departure from PSG to join Inter Miami.

The Argentine player was released by the French club in the summer subsequent to Messi’s contract expiration with PSG. The 36-year-old made a high-profile move to Inter Miami, marking a significant deal for the MLS.

Since Messi's departure, Mbappe has taken on a prominent role at PSG, especially after Neymar also left the reigning Ligue 1 champions for a transfer to Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Amazon Prime, Mbappe elaborated on his experience playing alongside Messi, expressing that he genuinely misses his former teammate from PSG.

Mbappe said when asked about Messi: “Playing with Leo Messi is definitely something I miss a lot. You always miss not playing with Leo Messi anymore!

“For an attacker like me, who likes to attack spaces, with him you have the certainty that you can get the ball. It was a luxury that almost only he can give you. Beyond that, playing with Messi was special.”

During Messi's tenure at PSG, he was utilized predominantly as a playmaker rather than a goal-scorer.

In 58 Ligue 1 appearances, the Argentine maestro secured 22 goals and provided 31 assists, a dynamic that Mbappe appreciated, according to his remarks.

Some months ago, the PSG forward claimed the accolade for Ligue 1 Player of the Season. In his acceptance speech, he attributed his development as a player to the influence of Lionel Messi.

“I want to thank all the players. Winning the league is a great honour for us. I want to thank Leo Messi who really helped me a lot this season, the staff, the management, and the people who work behind the scenes," Mbappe said.