Though widely regarded as one of the world’s premier players, the Frenchman faces his final opportunity to lead his hometown club to European triumph.
Curiously, despite his substantial earnings, Kylian Mbappe has often felt undervalued, especially in France. Nevertheless, he’s maintained that he doesn’t mind his compatriots taking his consistently exceptional performances for granted.
“I don’t hold it against them,” he told France Football last July. “They’ve watched me grow up, see me every weekend at Paris Saint-Germain or with the national team. I’ve been scoring consistently for years. So, for them, it’s become routine.”
Mbappe acknowledges the consumer society’s mentality, where excellence is expected to be repeated. He also reflects on the challenge of playing for PSG, a club known for its divisiveness.
Ironically, Mbappe has become a symbol of PSG’s division, seen as both a solution and a problem. As he nears a rumored move to Real Madrid following another potential Champions League disappointment, questions arise about whether his time at Parc des Princes has been more troublesome than beneficial.
Despite becoming PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer and securing numerous domestic titles, Mbappe, like his predecessors Neymar and Messi, has failed to achieve the club’s primary objective: winning the Champions League.
Mbappe himself has acknowledged this mission and the urgency to accomplish it. However, PSG faces an uphill battle in the Champions League, with a recent first-leg loss to Barcelona adding pressure to their campaign.
While Mbappe’s departure would undoubtedly impact PSG commercially, his presence has also become a distraction. Critics argue that PSG’s investment in Mbappe hasn’t yielded the desired results, and tensions between the player and the club have escalated.
Former PSG sporting director Leonardo believes PSG can succeed without Mbappe, pointing out that other clubs have won the Champions League without him. Mbappe’s likely move to Real Madrid suggests a missed opportunity for PSG to capitalize on his talent fully.
As Mbappe’s PSG legacy is evaluated, his remarkable records are overshadowed by the lack of European success. His mission to elevate PSG to Champions League glory may remain unfulfilled if the club fails to win against Barcelona, casting his tenure as a failure.
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