Mbappé: "Anyone Who Says Messi Is Only Talented And Ronaldo Is Only Hardworking Has Never Played Football"

French international Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid forward, asserted that reducing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's careers to just talent or just hard work is far from the reality of professional football.

Speaking in an interview with the "Sorare" channel on YouTube, Mbappé stated: "People say Messi is only talented, and Ronaldo is only hardworking? I don't mean to diminish them, but such talk only comes from people who have never played football."

He added: "If you can look me directly in the eye and tell me that Cristiano isn't talented, or that Messi isn't hardworking, then you simply haven't worn football boots to play the game."

He continued: "Reaching the highest levels in football requires a combination of talent and hard work, which Messi and Ronaldo have embodied throughout their careers filled with achievements."

Mbappé believes that great success and long-term consistency at the top cannot be achieved by talent alone or hard work alone, but by having both elements together, which is what distinguishes the legends of the game throughout history.