World Cup: Mbappe 'insists Ronaldo is better than Messi'...

Kylian Mbappe 'believes Cristiano Ronaldo is well clear of Lionel Messi in the greatest-of-all-time debate', claims a former team-mate, as he prepares to face Messi in Sunday's World Cup final.

The revelations come from Paris Saint-Germain defender Abdou Diallo, who played alongside Mbappe at the Parc des Princes from 2019 until this summer, when he joined RB Leipzig on loan.

And Diallo said superstar forward Mbappe believes Ronaldo is 'untouchable' when it comes to being the 'GOAT' - adding the 23-year-old will debate for 'at least an hour' if anyone tries to say his PSG team-mate Messi is better than the Portuguese.

He said: 'Cristiano Ronaldo is literally everything to Kylian Mbappé.

'If you mention Lionel Messi against Cristiano, Mbappe will debate with you for at least an hour. For him, Cristiano is untouchable.'

That could come back to bite him on Sunday, when Mbappe's France face Messi's Argentina in the Qatar tournament showpiece.

Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, 37, are widely considered the two best players of the current generation and have won a combined 71 major trophies (Messi 37, Ronaldo 34), with both among the eight players to score more than 700 goals for club and country.

Former Barcelona forward Messi, who linked up with Mbappe in the French capital in summer 2021, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards, compared to ex-Manchester United forward Ronaldo's total of five.

Ronaldo has won the European Championship trophy with Portugal, while Messi triumphed in the Copa America in 2021, while neither has won a World Cup - although that could change on Sunday.

Some feel Messi winning a World Cup with his country, just as compatriot Diego Maradona did in 1986, would elevate him above Ronaldo and, indeed, Maradona in the 'GOAT' debate.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is looking for his second World Cup trophy after scoring in the final in 2018 as Didier Deschamps' men beat Croatia 4-2.