Mueez Ajao
– Kylian Mbappe scored a club-record 201st goal for Paris St-Germain in an entertaining 4-2 win over Nantes.
– He had to wait until the 92nd minute but was clinical as he turned to finish left-footed and go clear of Edinson Cavani at the top of the PSG goal list.
– The France forward, who turned 24 in December, has established himself as a footballing superstar.
Also Read: King Kylian reigns supreme in Parc des Princes conquest
– “I play to make history,” said Mbappe, who joined in 2017 initially on loan from Monaco before a 180m euros move.
– “I have always said I wanted to make history in France, in the capital of my country, in my city, and I am doing that. It’s magnificent, but there is still a lot to be done.”
– Mbappe finished the game as captain and told Canal Plus: “For me, as a native Parisian, this is special. If someone had said to me I would score the goal to beat the record while wearing the captain’s armband, I would not have believed it.”
– The Frenchman has played at two World Cup finals, winning the trophy in 2018 and earning the Golden Boot as top scorer in 2022.
– Mbappe, who also won the 2021 Nations League with his country, scored a hat-trick in December’s World Cup final against Argentina, which France lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
– Since joining PSG from Monaco in 2017 for a world-record fee for a teenager, Mbappe has won four Ligue 1 titles and topped the division’s scoring charts for each of the past four seasons.
– This season, the forward has now scored 30 goals and made eight assists – taking his total to 85 for the club in 247 games.
– PSG went 2-0 up at the Parc des Princes with Lionel Messi opening the scoring before Jaouen Hadjam’s own goal.
– However, Nantes came back to level before half-time thanks to goals from Ludovic Blas and Ignatius Ganago, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma caught out at his near post for the first and making a fumble that led to the second.
– Mbappe crossed for Danilo Pereira to head the home side back in front on the hour mark before his crowning moment came late in the game.
