Lionel Messi insists there is no problem between him and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe following Argentina’s World Cup final victory over France.
Messi won the biggest prize of them all in Qatar last year, leading Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986.
Argentina looked set to win when they led 2-0 at half-time, but a Mbappe double near the end of the regulation 90 minutes sent the game into extra time.
Argentina were back in the lead with Messi’s second goal, but as before, Mbappe completed his hat-trick with two minutes remaining, forcing a penalty.
Argentina eventually prevailed 4-2 on penalties to spark wild celebrations, some of which seemed to revolve around Mbappe.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was said to have called a moment of silence for Mbappe in the dressing room afterwards, and then during Argentina’s celebratory parade in Buenos Aires he was seen carrying a doll with the PSG ambassador’s face plastered on it.
But Messi does not believe the controversy has had any impact on his relationship with his teammate.
He told Ole: “We talked about the game, the festivals, the experience of people in Argentina when I was on holiday, and the festivals we had. Nothing, nothing else.
“I was on the other side too, I also lost the World Cup final, and I didn’t want to know anything about it, what happened, and anything to do with the World Cup at that time.
“That’s why I don’t want to talk about it [to Mbappe] neither, but the truth is that there is no problem with Kylian, quite the opposite.”
Some of Argentina’s celebrations – particularly Martinez’s behavior – have fueled a negative perception of the team in the eyes of some.
There was also the photo of their reaction to beating the Netherlands on penalties earlier in the tournament, with many of Argentina’s players appearing to boo their opponents as they ran off to celebrate.
But Messi is adamant Argentina have done him a disservice, again explaining how their reaction to the Netherlands was in response to seemingly unsporting behavior from Louis van Gaal’s side.
“It seems to me that it is unfair that the lack of fairness in Argentina has been mentioned because it is not true,” he continued.
“We have always behaved in an exemplary manner, on and off the pitch. My team was great.
“I think they are talking about what happened with the Netherlands, that it all started there. It was the Dutch who spoke and wanted to destabilize our players when we were going to take the penalties accept.
“Everyone talks about what Argentina did after their win but nobody talks about that. I think we should look back more carefully and see what happened, and then comment.”