Football

Kylian Mbappe's illustrious chapter with Paris Saint-Germain came to a triumphant end as he bid farewell to the club with a French Cup triumph. The French superstar, whose contract expires this summer, expressed his pride in leaving with his "head held high" after PSG's 2-1 victory over Lyon in the final.Mbappe's departure has been widely anticipated, with Real Madrid heavily linked as his next destination. However, the 25-year-old remained tight-lipped about his future, stating that he would announce his decision "in good time.""I wanted to end things well with my club, with a trophy," Mbappe said. "I think there is a time for everything, and I will announce my future club in good time."Despite not scoring in the final, Mbappe leaves PSG as the club's all-time leading scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances. His seven-year spell in Paris has been marked by six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and two League Cups, as well as a Champions League final appearance in 2020.Mbappe admitted to feeling emotional ahead of the match, knowing that it would be his last for PSG. "With the protocol before a Cup final, you have a lot of waiting around and so there is a lot of time to think," he said. "You think and so all the memories start to come back. There is all the nostalgia, and the thought that in 90 minutes it will all be over."Despite the bittersweet nature of his departure, Mbappe expressed gratitude for his time at PSG. "There are only good memories and now I can go out with my head held high, with a trophy as well, so I will only remember the positives," he said.Mbappe will now join the France squad to prepare for Euro 2024, where he will undoubtedly be one of the key players for Les Bleus.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) capped off a remarkable season by securing a domestic treble with a 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the French Cup final on Saturday. The Ligue 1 and French Super Cup champions dominated the first half at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, extending their record-breaking Cup title count to 15.Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring for PSG in the 23rd minute, capitalizing on a cross from Nuno Mendes to head home from close range. Fabian Ruiz doubled the advantage just minutes later, firing a shot from a tight angle that found the back of the net.Lyon fought back in the second half, with Jake O'Brien reducing the deficit with a towering header from a corner. However, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb save to deny Lyon an equalizer.Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who failed to find the net in his final game for the club, PSG held on to secure the victory. The French superstar leaves PSG with an impressive record of 256 goals in 308 appearances over his seven-year spell.PSG's triumph marks their first French Cup title since 2021 and completes a historic treble for the club. They have now won all three major domestic trophies in France this season, adding to their Ligue 1 and French Super Cup victories.

Kylian Mbappé's illustrious tenure at Paris Saint-Germain will culminate on Saturday in the French Cup final against Lyon. The match marks the 308th and final appearance for the French superstar, who joined the club in 2017 from Monaco for a staggering €180 million.Mbappé's time in Paris has been a trophy-laden affair, with six Ligue 1 titles and two League Cups to his name. A victory against Lyon would add a fourth French Cup medal to his collection. However, his tenure has been overshadowed by PSG's elusive pursuit of the Champions League trophy.Despite scoring 42 goals in 64 Champions League appearances, Mbappé has yet to lift the coveted trophy. His closest attempt came in 2020 when PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the final. With Real Madrid reportedly his next destination, Mbappé will be eager to add a Champions League title to his resume.Mbappé's legacy in France is secure. As a teenage prodigy, he played a pivotal role in Monaco's Ligue 1 triumph in 2017. He has since become an icon in his home country, following in the footsteps of legendary French players like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Thierry Henry.Mbappé's French Cup history has been mixed. He was sent off in the 2019 final and injured in the 2020 final. However, he has also been a key figure in PSG's three Cup victories.Lyon, under the guidance of Pierre Sage, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since languishing at the bottom of the league in December. They have secured European qualification and pose a significant threat to PSG's hopes of a domestic double.The final will be played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, marking the first time the match has been held outside of Paris and its surrounding region. The venue's capacity of 50,000 is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere for Mbappé's farewell performance.

Paris Saint-Germain's dominance in French football continues unabated as they secured their 12th Ligue 1 title with three games to spare. This triumph marks their 10th title in the past 12 seasons, highlighting the transformative impact of the Qatari takeover in 2011.PSG's financial superiority over their domestic rivals is overwhelming. Deloitte's recent report ranked them third among the world's top-earning football clubs, with revenue exceeding 800 million euros. UEFA's European Club Finance report revealed that PSG has the second-highest wage bill in Europe, behind only Barcelona.Despite the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar, PSG's squad remains formidable. The club's 10 highest-paid players all play in Paris, according to a study by L'Equipe. This financial advantage makes it virtually impossible for any other team to compete domestically.However, credit must be given to manager Luis Enrique for guiding PSG through a period of transition. The team has not always been convincing, but they have picked up the pace since a slow start. Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Vitinha have all made significant contributions.Of course, the star of the show remains Kylian Mbappe, who has scored 43 goals in all competitions despite being used sparingly in recent months. While PSG may be a more balanced team without Messi and Neymar, Mbappe's presence remains a major asset.PSG's sights are now set on completing a historic treble. They have already qualified for the Champions League semi-finals and will face Borussia Dortmund. A victory there would set up a potential final against Lyon in the French Cup on May 25, followed by the Champions League final a week later."Of course, that's something we are talking about," said Luis Enrique. "It's a source of motivation for us. It will be a long, winding road to get there. We will need to stay fully focused until the end of the season."