Despite losing in the World Cup final, Mbappe: Argentina deserves to win, we must remember

Mbappé recently accepted an exclusive interview and talked about Melo, the World Cup finals, Paris and Real Madrid and other topics.

On choosing Paris over Real Madrid

"The situation was clear. My first goal when leaving Monaco was to get playing opportunities. Real Madrid had Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale, and I didn't want to sit on the bench. All European clubs promised me a regular place, but I knew Real Madrid couldn't guarantee it. Although it was a dream of mine, it was a privilege to play in my hometown in Paris. I spent the best time there. The pride of playing for my hometown team is very special - of course I always have the dream of working with Messi. When you talk about iconic historical players, you will think of Messi. Many people will label celebrities in the locker room, but he is not like that at all - he is unparalleled in his respect for everyone in the team. When it comes to players like this, you have to watch them up close and learn. He helps me understand the game on a deeper level and I feel very lucky to be playing alongside Messi. I never thought I would be on the same team with him. I thought he would end up at Barcelona, but my dream was Real Madrid. I have nothing but gratitude to him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "

Wearing a hat in the World Cup final and still losing

"In the final, what you think about is not scoring but winning. As forwards we are closest to the goal. It was a crazy game and Argentina deserved to win. They were better throughout the game. Although we have had shining moments, looking at the whole scene they are worth more. The defeat is heartbreaking, but we must remember it because we don't want to repeat the same mistakes in the 2026 World Cup. "

Evaluation of the Spanish National Team

"This is a team with strong control. A player with outstanding skills and a perfectly adapted strategy. Spain is one of the few teams that adheres to a unified system from youth training to the first team, which is a huge advantage. Congratulations to Spain on their achievement... but their squad is very young and most lack World Cup experience. At the moment they are the best in Europe, but the World Cup is a challenge in a different dimension. Hopefully they don’t do well enough for us to win (laughs). "

Talk about the Derby defeat

"This is a difficult game. No one expected this result, even when trailing 1-2, they never expected to concede four more goals. These are difficult times for the whole team, but we have to look forward. But we should not forget this defeat and learn from it if we want to win the championship. Whenever you encounter difficulties, fight to avoid repeating the same mistakes. The opponents are indeed better - they are well prepared for the derby, But we lacked intensity in confrontations and crosses. It's hard to win when your opponent wins all confrontations. Then we completely lost the rhythm and control of the game, which ultimately led to bitter consequences. "

The decider of the 13-year-old trial for Real Madrid

" is the result of a combination of factors. But my family never interfered and I always made my own decisions - the good thing about coming from a sports family is that they all understand that a career is a personal choice. Of course you'll listen to your loved ones' opinions, but the final decision is yours. When I left Monaco at the age of 18, I knew I wanted playing time, and Real Madrid had Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale at the time. All the clubs promised me a place, but I knew Real Madrid (although they respected me) could not guarantee consistent appearances. Realizing the dream of being the son of an emperor was the best thing last year. I am very happy now. "