"That's why everyone wants to be world champion" - Lionel Messi hits back at Kylian Mbappe's comment about EURO and World Cup
Lionel Messi has hit back at Kylian Mbappe's claims that the EUROs are harder to compete in than the World Cup. The Argentine star stated that the European competition is without three major countries that have won the World Cup, so it cannot be on a level above.
Speaking to Martin Arevalo of ESPN, Messi stated that the EURO cannot be tougher than the World Cup as the South American sides cannot compete. He noted that his side have won the World Cup thrice, Brazil have taken it home five times, while Uruguay have also won it twice and said:
"He also said that the South American teams didn't have the competition of the Europeans. Everyone values what they play. The EURO's is very important, but it leaves out Argentina, 3-time world champion; Brazil, 5-time world champion; Uruguay, two-time world champion."
"There are many world champions left out to say that the Euro is the most difficult, right? In the World Cup, the best teams are there, all the world champions are generally there. That's why everyone wants to be world champion."
EURO kicks off this weekend with Germany taking on Scotland, while Lionel Messi will have to wait another week for Copa America to kick off.
What did Kylian Mbappe say about EURO and World Cup?
Kylian Mbappe was talking to the media earlier this month and stated that the EURO is harder than the FIFA World Cup. He claimed that the pressure is higher and the style of play is similar and was quoted by BOLA VIP as saying:
"The Euros are complicated. For me, more complicated than a World Cup. Even if there is more pressure at the World Cup. All the teams know each other, we play against each other all the time. Tactically, it is a very similar soccer."
He made a similar comment before the 2022 World Cup and said:
"The advantage we Europeans have is that we always play between us, in high level matches like the Nations League. When we arrive to the World Cup, we are ready. Brazil and Argentina don't have that level in South America. Soccer is not as advanced as here in Europe. That's why the last World Champions are always Europeans."
Kylian Mbappe's France faces Austria in their first match on Monday.