In the wake of Argentina and Lionel Messi's 2022 FIFA World Cup victory at the expense of Kylian Mbappe and France, Paris Saint-Germain's head coach has set the record straight about the superstar duo's rumoured strained relationship.
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Messi was able to capture his nation's third World Cup title when La Albiceleste overcame reigning champions Les Bleus in an enthralling final. After a 3-3 scoreline in 120 minutes played, the South Americans emerged victorious from the subsequent penalty shootout.
During the encounter, it was Messi and Mbappe who carried the hopes of their respective sides. Each played a pivotal role in their team's aspirations of winning the decider, with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner finding the back of the net twice while his French counterpart became only the second player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
With both now set to reconvene for club matters in Paris, Les Parisiens head coach Christophe Galtier has insisted the outcome of the final did not put a strain on the duo's relationship, despite rumours suggesting otherwise.
"There is no reason to mix everything up in the relationship between Kylian and Leo [Messi]," he said, as per ESPN.
"Kylian has a very good attitude having lost the World Cup.
"When you lose a World Cup final, you have a reason to be very, very disappointed. He was very disappointed, but he knew how to go on and behave, and had a lot of class to congratulate Leo and that's very good for the club and for the team."
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Galtier also confirmed that Messi would miss PSG's return to league action against Strasbourg on Wednesday night.
"He [Messi] had to return to Argentina for the celebrations, the receptions and we decided that he was going to be off until January 1," the French tactician added.
"And so he will come and join us, either on the 2nd or the 3rd, to be able to resume competition with us, when he will have had between 13 and 14 days of recovery."
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