“You always find the best players and nations in Europe” - Real Madrid legend Luis Figo makes bold claim about European Championships
Real Madrid and Portugal legend Luis Figo claimed that the Euros are the best international competition, even tougher than the World Cup. He believes that the best players and the strongest nations play in the competition so it is the most difficult to win.
Speaking to UEFA's Inside The Box, Figo stated that the Euros were the best tournament featuring national sides. He said:
“I think it’s the best national competition in terms of football around the world. You always find the best players, the best nations in Europe so it is very competitive and very difficult to win. Playing for your country always makes you proud.”
Kylian Mbappe also made similar comments in June while talking to BOLA VIP:
"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. The advantage we Europeans have is that we always play between us, in high level matches like the Nations League."
Kylian Mbappe has joined Figo's former side, Real Madrid, this summer and will have his official presentation at Santiago Bernabeu after the Euro 2024.
Lionel Messi was not happy with Euro comments by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe
Lionel Messi had hit back at claims from Kylian Mbappe that the Euros were tougher to win than the FIFA World Cup. The Argentine responded to the Real Madrid star's comments in an interview with ESPN, saying:
"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," he added.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after the expiry of their respective contracts over the last year. While the Frenchman opted to move to Real Madrid this summer, the Argentine joined MLS side Inter Miami in 2023.