"Mbappe knows ball", "Going straight to the top" - Fans hail Kylian Mbappe as he calls out disrespect aimed at Lionel Messi during PSG stint

Kylian Mbappe has received praise from fans on Twitter after slamming the treatment of Lionel Messi during the latter's time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Messi is leaving the Parc des Princes at the end of June when his contract expires. The iconic forward is joining MLS side Inter Miami, ending months of speculation regarding his future.

The Argentine hero leaves PSG unceremoniously amid a fractious relationship with the club's fans. The 35-year-old was also lambasted by French media throughout his two seasons in the French capital.

Kylian Mbappe has lashed out at those who he feels disrespected Messi during his spell at the Parc des Princes:

"Personally, I haven't really understood why so many people were relieved that he was leaving. We're talking about Messi; he should be respected -- but instead, he didn't get the respect he deserved in France. It's a shame, but that's how it went. He'll have to be replaced as best as possible."

Lionel Messi scored 32 goals and provided 35 assists in 75 appearances across competitions at PSG. He won two Ligue 1 titles but he was largely criticised for not helping guide the Ligue 1 giants beyond the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The Argentine icon was at the receiving end of a scathing analysis from French outlet RMC Sport for a poor performance following his 2022 FIFA World Cup heroics in Qatar. Messi struggled in a 1-0 loss to Rennes in January, and the publication wrote:

“He only had a good first half of the season because he was preparing for the World Cup; he was getting ready. That’s over now. He starts because Galtier, the great revolutionary along with Campos, just leaves him on the field."

This was a regular occurrence for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner at PSG. His performances were constantly under the microscope, and his star power at the Parc des Princes was a problem.

There were even reports that Kylian Mbappe didn't speak to Messi during the legendary forward's final campaign. The egos in the Parisian dressing room ran out of control during a volatile campaign, it was reported.

However, Mbappe has clearly got an enormous amount of respect for the Barcelona legend. Fans have taken notice, with one tweeting:

"Best player in history! (Mbappe) knows ball."

Another fan has backed Kylian Mbappe to make it to the top of world football:

"That’s why he’s going straight to the top. I’m taking him over paaland every day of the week."

Here's how Twitter reacted to the PSG attacker's surprising defence of Lionel Messi:

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Lionel Messi tips Kylian Mbappe to become a great

The PSG duo will separate this summer.

Lionel Messi was full of praise for Kylian Mbappe in February after the duo had just locked horns in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Messi's Argentina claimed World Cup glory with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Mbappe's France. The two nations drew 3-3 after extra time, with the PSG striker bagging a hat-trick for Les Bleus.

The Argentina captain heaped praise on Mbappe when assessing his playing style (via The Mirror):

"Kylian is a different player, a beast who is very strong in one-on-one, who goes into space, who is very fast, who scores a lot of goals. He is a complete player, and he has proved it for years, and in the years to come, he will certainly be among the best."

Kylian Mbappe scored 41 goals and contributed ten assists in 43 appearances across competitions this season for PSG. He has 212 goals and 98 assists in 260 games for the Parisians.

The Frenchman is tipped to follow in Lionel Messi's footsteps and become a regular Ballon d'Or contender. He could be in the running this year after his exploits in Qatar saw him win the Golden Boot with eight goals in seven World Cup games.