“I Grew Up”: Mbappe Offers a Fresh Perspective on the Football GOAT Debate

Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he’s no longer quick to answer the question of who the football GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is.

“I love Cristiano, and I was a big fan of him when I was young,” the Frenchman said, as cited by SportBible.

“But I’ve started to appreciate Messi too. When you are a big fan of Cristiano when you are young, you can’t fully appreciate how good Messi is because you love Cristiano.

“But I’ve grown up, and now I appreciate both.”

Prior to this statement, Mbappe was known as a long-time admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo. He grew up idolizing the Portuguese superstar, with posters of Ronaldo covering the walls of his room. Mbappe even had the opportunity to meet Cristiano when he was just 14 years old.

It’s possible that playing alongside Lionel Messi at PSG has had an effect on Mbappe’s perspective. Unlike some Paris fans who were initially conflicted about Messi’s arrival, Mbappe now appears to recognize greatness when he sees it.