At least he fronted up to the media for a few minutes, which is more than he had done in the previous 90 on the pitch. Ballon d'Or? Kylian Mbappe is the balloon headed for the door, and what a deflating exit this was, beaten 2-0 over two legs by Borussia Dortmund, the fifth best team in Germany.
Big players - the best, the very best - they turn up on nights like this, and not just to whisper a few words to the press. Subdued just about captures his performance, too. For all the noise inside Parc des Princes, Mbappe was quiet, so quiet it screamed back at you.
He was gagged, in part, by Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck. But there was something about his own body language that seemed restrictive - there were early distress signals in the form of a pass straight to a yellow jersey - and he reserved his most expressive action for a roll of the eyes when asked by the press if he would be supporting Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, the club he will join this summer. With that, Mbappe left. It was as if he had never been there at all.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - not the diminished version of PSG - always showed. Through a human skill so superior or an animalistic force of nature, they carried their teams to victory. Between them, they won the Champions League nine times. Mbappe, at 25, remains on zero.
Maybe it will be that the move to Madrid brings a flurry of European crowns in the second half of his career. But what has the first half - seven seasons at PSG - amounted to? In actual numbers - six Ligue 1 titles plus three French Cup and two League Cup wins.
But to any observer beyond France, Mbappe only plays in the Champions League. What he achieves domestically feels like box ticking. The one box he had to populate on Tuesday was the penalty box. He put himself in there, at least in a literal sense. But the spirit, the will, the skill, the qualities which saw him score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, they were elsewhere. Madrid, perhaps?
The locals agreed this week that Mbappe's legacy would be determined by PSG's success or otherwise in this season's Champions League. He did not, however, write a new chapter. Rather, this amounted to a full stop on a story long since told.
As an epitaph, L'Equipe's match rating of two out of 10 was brutal, if not entirely unfair.
'His last match with Paris in (the Champions League) looked like a nightmare,' they wrote. 'Installed on the left side, the attacker was, for a long time, infinitely technically fragile. Dominated in the duel by Hummels, he almost never went one-on-one.
'He missed his shot from close range (36th minute) and narrowly missed the shot which hit the crossbar (86th minute). It was ultimately through his returning crosses that he was most dangerous. That's so little for a Ballon d'Or contender…'
Mbappe's right of reply came when, to our surprise, he appeared in the corridor next to the dressing-rooms to talk to the media. He ignored Mail Sport's request for a few words in English.
Instead, in a hushed French, he bemoaned his team's performance at both ends of the pitch. In truth, though, the failure to score a single goal over two legs was the reason PSG were beaten.
'When we say that we had to do better offensively, I know that I'm involved,' he said. 'I'm disappointed but that's how it is. When you're not effective in both boxes, it's complicated. In the Champions League you have to be effective in two areas, and on this point they were better than us, so there you go.'
Why did he want to talk?
'When I score, I take the light and I come in front of you,' he said. 'When I'm not, I also take on the dark side. Not a problem.'
The question about Real Madrid provoked one of his quicker movements of the evening, and that was that. Will it be the last time he speaks as a PSG player? It matters not, really. Actions speak louder than words, and his last meaningful act was a meaningless slip as he went through on goal in the dying seconds.
By now, the pyros in the stands had fizzled away. With it, the light went out for good on Mbappe and PSG in the Champions League. It never did burn as brightly as they had hoped.
ArsenalforeverRed
0
Barcelona and Messi fan’s still crying
chinelson
0
mbappe is finished
like Messi and Neymar
Vueknouz
0
he was a visitor on the pitch
Vueknouz
0
mbappe is finished
Zeus93
1
... they put 2 to 3 men on mbappe to keep him quiet n fans are blaming him for PSG exit. It shows how poor the rest of his teammates are. This is why I blame his teammates. Imagine Mbappe in a Real Madrid team, and the opponent put 2 - 3 men on him. Just wonder what the likes on Vini, Rodrygo, Velverde, and of course Jude will do with that free marking.
thank you for saying the truth . idiots will still insult him
Tuaclprsuz
1
Thank u bvb for saving the world from noise pollution from mbappe and co!!!
ariwanze
3
... they put 2 to 3 men on mbappe to keep him quiet n fans are blaming him for PSG exit. It shows how poor the rest of his teammates are. This is why I blame his teammates. Imagine Mbappe in a Real Madrid team, and the opponent put 2 - 3 men on him. Just wonder what the likes on Vini, Rodrygo, Velverde, and of course Jude will do with that free marking.
Nabinpanthi123
1
Psg ultras are no where now.. imagine if there was messi and neymar they would have booed both but mbappe
ciuabimsyz
2
Over to you PSG fans, do you boe him? If not, then why? Do you mean you are selective in the treatment of your players? For 180 minutes over the two legs, Mbappe and co. score zero goal and in disgrace at Pac des Princes in front of the ultras, they bow out of the Champions league, but no boeing... had it been for Messi, you will surely hear negative chants and boeing across the stadium. SHAME!
Manchesterisblue
0
This is a clear example of why Real Madrid don't need Mbappe, but Mbappe needs them. Yes, he is a very special player but Real Madrid will always be Real Madrid...if fate has it, they might win the UCL twice in Mbappes time at PSG while has failed to win it in his Seven seasons at PSG!
True but still he is a talent that can take his game to another level when he join real madrid, the club that are used to win big tournament will definitely a game changer for him.
Shark-V
0
Just come to Barcelona, you can create a legacy facing Real Madrid
Nuteknoyz
0
Y'all leave this young man abit. The press heckles him too much . He's human
koocdioptu
2
Today I learnt the real meaning of Ballon d'Or - balloon headed for the door
cozcoprsz
0
This is a clear example of why Real Madrid don't need Mbappe, but Mbappe needs them. Yes, he is a very special player but Real Madrid will always be Real Madrid...if fate has it, they might win the UCL twice in Mbappes time at PSG while has failed to win it in his Seven seasons at PSG!
2018 2022 2024...loading
m4verickplays
4
This is a clear example of why Real Madrid don't need Mbappe, but Mbappe needs them. Yes, he is a very special player but Real Madrid will always be Real Madrid...if fate has it, they might win the UCL twice in Mbappes time at PSG while has failed to win it in his Seven seasons at PSG!
MacTips
2
Who wrote this? Please don't waste our precious time with your senseless info. Did you even watch the game? The fact that Dortmund won does not mean that PSG or Mbappe are not good at all.
Daniel200p
0
Who did this?🤣🤣🤣 I'm sure Dembele himself will laugh hard when he sees this.😂😂😂
[image]
When you invite a boy to a family meeting. U no what happens
Frankaay™
4
mbappe has been the best player in the world for the past 7 seasons. He hasn't won ballon dor because he plays for PSG. we call Vini and Haaland the best players but look at their stats. Haaland can't even assist or contribute anything except a tap in. leave mbappe alone
Beautifulboy
4
Who did this?🤣🤣🤣 I'm sure Dembele himself will laugh hard when he sees this.😂😂😂
Kezabckrst
0
Mbape scored hat trick in world cup final.
danailsty
1
If it was Messi you probably give him a head job stupid and raised him all the way to the sky
danailsty
0
Because when you talk like that that’s what you are cowards
danailsty
1
I hope he never gives any interviews to any of you cowards
danailsty
0
You stupid people never accomplish anything good in your lives but say lies and trash people that goes for all media not just for the coward that said Mabape is few minutes with the reporters was more then he did in 90 min
danailsty
0
You guy are real cowards maybe he didn’t have one of the best games but he just wasn’t lucky I am not his fan but the man deserves respect
Demaikoy
1
If Mbappe wasn't great, you wouldn't be wasting your time and energy writing about him.Was he the only player on the psg squad? when great players don't give what we want, we just become bitter. Is the nature of the game. Take it or leave it. Mbappe do not work for you. Balon d'or or not, he will be remembered in football his after his retirement. Stop crying more than the bearieved.
viecinopr
0
And miss out on all the silly money & benefits offered to him to stay a little longer, than he had originally planned. Don’t fool yourself like PSG. The writing has always been on the wall for the whole world to see, where he truly has always wanted to be and was always destined to play.
Luuknpryz
0
kylian mbappes performance is become lower and lower in the near time.poor performance.
Luuknpryz
1
Dembele is not a footballer he could not get success in his life i am 100% sure.even he has to retire early because he can not get success......no
viecinopr
0
The truth be told Mbappe does NOT possess exquisite skills except speed and power, exaggerated value even had French President Macon added his voice to the throng, that in PSG is where he belongs, now Real or False Madrid experiences with Hazard and Bale be proven wrong that Mbappe will haunt
Yet, All of France was offered to him just to stay. Poor guy, you sound bitter as if your girlfriend left you for someone else. It’s been coming for a long time, despite your denial of reality, so please let it go. It’s time! Good luck with that. 🥂
teubdnpsz
0
Kylian mbappe hold yourself you trying a lots for PSG club leave the club go to real Madrid
Karnue
4
Next season by God grace he will lift the UCL trophy with Madrid
veecmpsuz
0
the guy should’ve just left two seasons ago for a reasonable wage instead of starting some huge saga and wasting time in France
Beycdkmnpz
0
The truth be told Mbappe does NOT possess exquisite skills except speed and power, exaggerated value even had French President Macon added his voice to the throng, that in PSG is where he belongs, now Real or False Madrid experiences with Hazard and Bale be proven wrong that Mbappe will haunt
mark your comment bro
Beycdkmnpz
0
The truth be told Mbappe does NOT possess exquisite skills except speed and power, exaggerated value even had French President Macon added his voice to the throng, that in PSG is where he belongs, now Real or False Madrid experiences with Hazard and Bale be proven wrong that Mbappe will haunt
mark your comments
vokabmnpsy
4
The truth be told Mbappe does NOT possess exquisite skills except speed and power, exaggerated value even had French President Macon added his voice to the throng, that in PSG is where he belongs, now Real or False Madrid experiences with Hazard and Bale be proven wrong that Mbappe will haunt