It is remarkable to think that, come Sunday evening, Kylian Mbappe, who only turns 24 next Tuesday, could have already twice won the biggest prize in football, which would ensure that it forever eludes the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi.
Added to the momentous backdrop of the World Cup final is the fact that Mbappe and Messi are, of course, team-mates at Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain. Whoever wins and whoever loses at Lusail Stadium, there could be ramifications for their club careers.
The futures of Messi and Mbappe are yet to be decided. Neither will go anywhere before the summer, but both have made it clear that they want to see how their countries fare in the World Cup and how PSG’s latest attempt to win the Champions League play out before deciding whether they will stay.
The sight of Mbappe wearing another winner’s medal at the Parc des Princes will cut to the core of Messi. Similarly, should Messi be triumphant, it will hurt Mbappe, who is rightly regarded as the best player in the world at present and whose ambition burns brightly.
There is no lasting animosity between the two players. They are not friends in the way that Mbappe is close to Achraf Hakimi, not least because there is a 12-year age gap, but there is respect and mutual admiration. Neymar, who is 30, is far closer to Messi than Mbappe is – as was evidenced in his exclusive interview with The Telegraph prior to the tournament – and given their history at Barcelona that is no surprise.
Mbappe and Messi are not buddies, but neither is there any hostility. There is a far cooler relationship between Mbappe and Neymar, who were close, with the temperature having dropped further after Mbappe signed his new contract last May.
That caused consternation in Spain, where Real Madrid had convinced themselves he was joining them on a free transfer. PSG maintain they were always sure he would stay
There have been outlandish claims of the level of control Mbappe now has at PSG, but it is fair to state that he is the most influential player at the club – just as he is with France. At the same time PSG are well aware that this, finally, might be his last season with them and having secured him on a new deal, up until 2025, they are prepared to sell if he wants to go and they receive an appropriate offer.
What would that be? One senior PSG source told Telegraph Sport: “If people realise how valuable Kylian is today then they will realise how important he is for the club.
But it might be next year. PSG are relaxed about that, especially after the crisis in October when Mbappe made it clear he wanted to leave in the January window because, at that time, he felt his relationship with the club had broken down.
Sources close to Mbappe claimed promises made to him had not been kept, primarily the intention to sign a No 9 so that he would not have to play as a central striker, which became evident with his infamous “pivot gang” post on Instagram. That led to tension with Neymar and sources claimed Mbappe regretted signing his new contract.
It has calmed down since then, with PSG believing it was a cry for help. But if Mbappe wins the World Cup with France, who play Olivier Giroud at centre forward, a man he loves playing alongside, it may convince him to think about his future again.
PSG are seriously considering a move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, having held talks last summer. They have indicated this will only happen if he is available on a free, which United will block by triggering the 12-month extension in his contract, but if PSG are armed with a world-record fee then do not rule it out. Especially if Rashford forces the issue.
The situation with Messi is also clear for PSG. They, and sources close to the Argentinian, emphatically reject reports that he will agree a deal to join Inter Miami at the end of this season.
It may also depend on how PSG fare in the Champions League, although Messi has told the club that he enjoys working under coach Christophe Galtier and they are reasonably confident he will remain. At the very least they are emphatic he has not decided his future.
Inter Miami, who are part-owned by David Beckham, have made no secret of wanting to sign Messi. Beckham also has close links with the Qataris, having played for PSG, and has been working as an £150 million (NZ$288 million) ambassador, controversially, during the World Cup. The Qataris would be surprised if a deal has been done behind their backs with Messi.
It all adds another intriguing layer to Sunday’s (Monday NZT) final. For the Qataris it is a win-win situation, given where the two main personalities play their club football and the exposure the game will receive, but it may have consequences as to what happens next and whether they stay there.
