Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Kylian Mbappe expressed pride and nostalgia after ending his tenure at the club with a victory in the French Cup final against Lyon on Saturday. The match, held in Lille, saw PSG triumph 2-1, making it a memorable end to Mbappe’s illustrious career with the Parisian giants.
With his contract at PSG now expired, Mbappe confirmed his departure from the club after the season’s conclusion. Although he is heavily rumored to be joining Real Madrid, he has yet to officially disclose his next destination.
“All I wanted was to end things well with my club, with a trophy. I think there is a time for everything and I will announce my future club in good time,” Mbappe told reporters after the match.
Though he didn’t score in this final game, Mbappe leaves PSG as the club’s all-time top scorer, with 256 goals in 308 appearances. His tenure at PSG includes remarkable achievements: six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and two League Cups, alongside a notable run to the Champions League final in 2020.
Reflecting on his emotional state during post-match interviews, Mbappe acknowledged the bittersweet nature of his departure. “With the protocol before a Cup final, you have a lot of waiting around and so there is a lot of time to think, and the last thing a footballer needs to be doing is thinking,” he shared, highlighting how his final moments with PSG were filled with nostalgia and a sense of finality.
The French Cup final featured goals from Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz for PSG, while Jake O’Brien netted Lyon’s lone goal. This victory secured a domestic league and cup double for Luis Enrique’s squad, despite their semifinal exit in the Champions League to Borussia Dortmund.
As Mbappe now joins the French squad for Euro 2024, the football world eagerly awaits his next move, which he promises to reveal “in a few days.”
