Mbappe makes Messi Ballon d'Or claim after unselfish act halts record shot

Kylian Mbappe has claimed Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi would "fully deserve" to win the Ballon d'Or after the Argentine's unselfish act towards the French superstar prevented him from breaking a record.

Despite Messi being on for what would have been a record eighth hat-trick in the Champions League and scoring a penalty earlier in their 3-2 victory over RB Lezipig on Tuesday, Mbappe took a spot-kick in the 94th minute.

But he blazed his effort over the bar, fortunately not costing PSG their comeback win at the Parc des Princes as regular taker Neymar was ruled out of the Group A match through injury.

Speaking post-match, Mbappe revealed he gave his side's first penalty to Messi before the 34-year-old returned the favour and subsequently received the 22-year-old's backing to win a seventh Ballon d'Or.

Messi is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for most Champions League hat-tricks ( Image:

Sebastien Muylaert/PSG via Getty Images)

"Why did I give the penalty to Messi? That's what team-mates do," Mbappe explained while speaking to RMC Sport.

"He's the best player in the world.

"He let me take the second penalty. Unfortunately, I missed.

"It's a privilege to play with him and it would be fully deserved if he won the Ballon d'Or."

In a separate interview, the World Cup winner - set to leave the club in June 2022 upon the expiration of his contract in his native capital - told Canal+ that it was "respect" which led to Messi giving him the opportunity to score a second goal himself.

Mauricio Pochettino 's side took the lead through Mbappe in the ninth minute but found themselves behind in the second half after goals from Andre Silva and Nordi Mukiele.

Messi then struck twice inside seven minutes to turn things around.

As Les Parisien looked to see out the victory, right-back Achraf Hakimi won a second penalty after substitute Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol fouled him and VAR advised Italian referee Marco Guida to take another look on the pitch-side monitor.

With Manchester City beating Club Brugge 5-1 earlier in the evening, there was pressure on Pochettino and co to deliver in front of their own fans.

Should Messi have gone for a hat-trick himself? Give us your verdict here.

Also speaking to RMC Sport, via Get Football News France, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss said: "I think it was a match in which we started well by scoring.

"We then had a difficult period, against a team that had scored three goals against Manchester City.

"Leipzig are a team capable of creating opportunities, they were very dangerous."

"But I think we showed character. We fought through adversity," Pochettino affirmed.

"We showed a certain organisation in order to attack the game, to hold on and to show the talent we have.

"We will progress with time, I have no doubt about it."