Kylian Mbappe netted a goal during his final appearance at Parc des Princes as a Paris Saint-Germain player on Sunday, yet the French champions endured an unexpected 3-1 loss against Toulouse on the evening they were presented with the Ligue 1 championship trophy.
Mbappe officially announced his departure from PSG in a social media video released on Friday, revealing that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, concluding a seven-year tenure with the team.
Real Madrid is anticipated to be the next destination for the player, whose exit from Paris has been an open secret since February when he privately communicated his intention to move on to the club.
Wearing the captain’s armband, Mbappe swiftly found the back of the net against Toulouse, elevating his season goal tally to 44 across all competitions.
Nonetheless, Thijs Dallinga rapidly leveled the score for Toulouse against a PSG side that made 10 changes from the team eliminated from the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in the midweek semi-finals, with Mbappe being the sole player retained.
Yann Gboho surged Toulouse into the lead with a magnificent goal in the second half, and Frank Magri sealed the victory in stoppage time as PSG faced only their second Ligue 1 defeat this season, and their first loss in 27 games since September.
Mbappe has now accumulated 256 goals for PSG, a club-record achievement, since joining Monaco in 2017 in a deal valued at 180 million euros ($194 million).
His total of 191 goals in France’s top tier, including 16 with Monaco at the onset of his career, positions him seventh in the all-time rankings. Coach Luis Enrique hailed the 25-year-old as “a club legend” in his pre-game media interactions.
Paris Saint-Germain had previously announced that the post-match celebrations on Sunday would be dedicated to their championship triumph rather than a specific tribute to Mbappe. While some spectators expressed disapproval towards the forward during the team introductions before the match, a large banner featuring Mbappe in his iconic stance with folded arms was displayed before kick-off at one end of the stadium.
“I noted applause, the fans paid him a well-deserved tribute, he is regarded as a club icon despite his youth,” conveyed Luis Enrique, who described the banner as “exquisite.” The Qatari-owned club had already clinched a record-breaking 12th French title, marking their 10th victory in 12 years, before facing Toulouse, who have also been ensured safety from relegation.
Mbappe’s exit from PSG means he will depart without ever lifting the prestigious Champions League trophy.
Despite finishing as runners-up in 2020 and reaching the semi-finals twice more with Mbappe, the French national team captain is now setting his sights on securing the trophy with his next club. PSG still has the opportunity to complete a domestic titles sweep this season, as they are scheduled to face Lyon in the French Cup final on May 25.
In addition to Ligue 1, PSG has already secured the Champions Trophy, France’s equivalent of the Super Cup.
Monaco secured second place and automatic qualification for the Champions League next season with a 2-0 win over Montpellier.
Lille climbed to third place ahead of Brest on goal difference following Jonathan David’s brace in their 2-1 victory against Nantes.
The top three teams in Ligue 1 will directly qualify for the expanded 36-team Champions League next season, while the fourth-placed team will enter the competition in the preliminary rounds.
Nice, presently in fifth place, are four points behind Lille and Brest but still have a chance to secure a top-four finish before their upcoming match against PSG.
Lens drew 1-1 against Rennes to maintain their sixth position, whereas Orel Mangala’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Lyon against Clermont, sustaining their European aspirations.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice as Marseille triumphed over Lorient 3-1, remaining in the running for European qualification.
Clermont’s relegation was confirmed following their defeat, while Lorient is on the brink of relegation as they lag behind Metz by three points with one game remaining and a lower goal difference.
Metz, who succumbed 2-1 to Strasbourg, is now poised to compete in a playoff against a Ligue 2 team for a place in the top flight next season.
From Songu Michael
