There comes a time when superstars need to step up and provides their all for his or her team.
Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe can already be considered one in all the best players in the world, with a World Cup and five Ligue 1 trophies to his name.
However, the Frenchman is yet to help his hometown club win the trophy that has at all times eluded him – the Champions League.
On Tuesday, the 25-year-old scored two goals for PSG they defeated five-time champion Barcelona 6-4 on aggregate advance to the semi-finals of the most vital competition in Europe, where they’ll face Borussia Dortmund.
The first was a penalty – calmly slotted into the net after Joao Cancelo had brought down Ousmane Dembele – before the ball was passed to him on the fringe of the area in the 89th minute. Marc-Andre ter Stegen deflected the ball from Mbappe’s first shot, nevertheless it hit the net and ended a terrific evening for PSG.
“I just think some people seem to be blessed from above that this is your time and that’s the case with Mbappe,” former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
“For his second goal, it doesn’t go to anyone else but him because he’s the guy.”
Mbappe was silent during the first match in Paris and didn’t dazzle in Barcelona until scoring in the 61st minute, but PSG boss Luis Enrique praised his striker for his control of the match.
“He was a leader from start to finish and when the team feels that an important player like him is ready to take everyone with him, you make the most of it,” the Spaniard said.
PSG fans have been waiting for Mbappe to deliver them the long-awaited and long-awaited Champions League trophy.
Some even imagine that if he doesn’t do that, his profession in Paris can be considered a failure, and a transfer to Real Madrid is planned in the summer.
Expectations are high for Mbappe.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals in 39 games) has scored more away goals in the Champions League knockout round than Mbappe (15 in 12 games).
“The moment will come on two legs [in the semi-final] in which Mbappe must come to the fore,” said Ferdinand.
“He belongs to the category of high-quality players.”
Mbappe said after the match that “I dream of winning the Champions League with Paris” and “we are going to attempt to go to Wembley.”
So could Mbappe and PSG’s time finally come?
Last probability for PSG Mbappe
Although PSG is on track to win a third consecutive Ligue 1 title and has reached the last four European titles, it has not all been smooth sailing for Mbappe.
This will be his last season at his hometown club and he will move to Spanish giants Real in the summer.
In February, Mbappe met PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and told him he was leaving and joining Real Madrid. where he will sign a five-year contractearning €15 million (£12.8 million) per season plus a €150 million (£128 million) sign-on bonus, payable over five years.
Mbappe then moved in and out of the team, changing or substituting him in five of PSG’s last six league games.
Despite this, he managed to score 41 goals in 42 matches in all competitions, including eight in the Champions League.
PSG’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments, have made no secret of the fact that their main goal is to win Europe’s elite competition, even though the Parisian club has won nine Ligue 1 titles since taking over in 2011.
The closest they came to winning the Champions League was in 2020 when they reached the final but were defeated by Bayern Munich.
Since then, there have been disappointing exits from the round of 16 matches, raising questions about whether PSG’s team can really challenge Europe’s elite.
However, Mbappe is just two victories away from a fairy-tale ending to his PSG profession.
Credit : www.bbc.co.uk
