Mashable: Lionel Messi is set to join Inter Miami

PSG star Kylian Mbappe came to his former teammate Lionel Messi’s defense.

The Paris Saint-Germain star player has lashed out at France for not giving the 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain the respect he deserved.

Lionel Messi is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this month after two years. The Argentine joined the club in 2021 on a free transfer from Barcelona.

Now, the French football player has demanded respect for his former Argentine teammate following his exit from the Champions League.

The 24-year-old player is not happy with the treatment that Messi received during his two seasons in the French capital.

Messi was often booed and jeered by Paris Saint-Germain fans over the past two seasons. The star player opted not to extend his contract with PSG and announced his departure at the end of this season.

As per ESPN, Mbappe has defended his former PSG teammate and said that the player deserved more respect in France.

Kylian Mbappe talked with the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, and called Lionel Messi the “best player” in the “history of football.”

The star player said that it was not a “good news” when Messi decided to leave PSG and revealed he did not really understood “why so many people” were relieved upon his departure.

Kylian Mbappe backed Messi and said he should be “respected”. The 24-year-old player was clearly uphappy as Messi didn't get the respect “he deserved” and said it's “a shame.”

Now, Lionel Messi will begin his new journey at the Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.