Lionel Messi fires back at Kylian Mbappe’s claim that Euros are harder than World Cup: ‘there are a lot of world champions left off’

Lionel Messi has hit back at Kylian Mbappe’s claim that the European Championships are a tougher competition than the World Cup, with the Argentina star pointing out that the former tournament is missing several world champions.

Ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany, Mbappe claimed the continental tournament was ‘more complicated than a World Cup’, but Messi disagreed with his former PSG teammate’s claim.

“Well, everyone is prioritizing their tournament,” Messi began ESPN Argentinaahead of his country’s participation in this summer’s Copa America.

‘The European Championship is of course very important and has the best teams, but he leaves out three-time champion Argentina, five-time champion Brazil and two-time champion Uruguay. There are many world champions who say this is the most difficult tournament.

‘The best teams play at the World Cup, which usually involves all the world champions. There’s a reason why everyone wants to be a champion.”

The pair fought in the 2022 World Cup final as Messi’s Argentina emerged victorious

Messi’s Argentina are the reigning Copa America champions after beating Brazil in the 2021 final, while France are looking for their first trophy since winning the World Cup in 2018.

Mbappe won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but his France would fall to Messi’s Argentina at the final hurdle.

Ahead of this summer’s European Championships, the French forward explained why he believed the European Championships are the toughest international competition in the world.

‘The euro is complicated. For me, more complicated than a World Cup,” Mbappe said at a press conference.

‘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’s very similar football.’

He also reiterated a similar pro-Europe sentiment ahead of the 2022 World Cup, saying countries like Argentina and Brazil do not face the same level of competition.

Messi returned to the Argentina team on Sunday evening for a friendly match against Ecuador

“The advantage that we Europeans have is that we always play between us, in high-level matches such as the Nations League,” he said via Bolavip.

‘When we arrive at the World Cup, we will be ready. Brazil and Argentina do not have that level in South America. Football is not yet as advanced as here in Europe. That’s why the last world champions are always Europeans.’

France starts its European Championship campaign against Austria on June 17, while Argentina faces Canada on June 20.