FranceWith a double in the 4-1 win over Lorient in round 29, striker Kylian Mbappe has 43 goals on all fronts this season, the best achievement in a season since he played for PSG.
The 2018 World Cup champion currently has 10 assists and 43 goals through 43 matches in all competitions this season. In Ligue 1 alone, Mbappe leads the top scorer list with 26 goals, nine goals ahead of second-placed Jonathan David.
This is Mbappe’s best scoring season in a PSG shirt. Previously, he scored 41 goals in the 2022-2023 season, 39 goals in the 2021-2022 season, 42 goals in the 2020-2021 season, 30 goals in the 2019-2020 season, 39 goals in the 2018-2019 season and 21 goals in the 2017-2018 season.
PSG still has five matches in Ligue 1, at least two Champions League semi-finals against Dortmund on May 1 and 7, and a French National Cup final against Lyon on May 25. Thanks to that, Mbappe still has many opportunities to increase his scoring record.
Mbappe (No. 7) shared joy with his teammates, including his younger brother Ethan Mbappé (No. 38). Image: psg.fr
Mbappe emerged as a teenage player for Monaco. In 2017, PSG signed a loan contract with Mbappe and a year later, bought him outright for 200 million USD. The French striker immediately became PSG’s mainstay with a record of 253 goals and 107 assists in 296 matches, helping the club win five Ligue 1, three French Cups, two French League Cups and three French Super Cups.
This is likely to be Mbappe’s last season playing for PSG. According to European media, the 25-year-old striker informed President Nasser Al Khelaifi of his decision to leave PSG when his contract expires in June 2024 and reach a five-year agreement with Real Madrid.
At the Stade du Moustoir-Yves Allainmat on April 24, PSG dominated and took the lead in the 19th minute. Dembele dribbled the ball from the right wing into the middle and curled it to the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo rooted to the spot.
The French striker opened fire in the last three matches in all competitions for PSG. This is the first time Dembele has achieved this achievement at the club level since playing for Barca in four consecutive matches from August to September 2018. Before the match against Lorient, Dembele scored in both matches against Barca in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Dembele dribbled the ball before the defense of Lorient defender. Image: AFP
Three minutes later, it was Mbappe’s turn to score. The 25-year-old striker opened the left sideline for Nuno Mendes and then accelerated into the penalty area and finished one-touch to the far corner to double the gap.
In the 59th minute, Mbappe continued to leave his mark when he threaded Nathaniel Adjei’s needle and then stretched it across for Dembele to cushion into the empty net. Dembele scored his fifth goal in all competitions this season, including three goals in Ligue 1 and two in the Champions League.
After Mohamed Bamba’s header shortened the gap for the hosts, Mbappe sealed a 4-1 victory in the final minute of official play, dribbling the ball from the left wing to the middle and then curling it to the far corner. .
The 4-1 result helped PSG set an unbeaten away record in Ligue 1 with a series of 22 matches, breaking Lyon’s milestone of 21 consecutive unbeaten matches in the period from March 2005 to April 2006. The Paris capital club also took a big step towards the championship, currently having 69 points, 11 points more than the next-placed team, Monaco.
On April 27, PSG returned home to meet Le Havre in round 31 of Ligue 1 and then marched to Dortmund to play the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on May 1.
Squad:
Lorient: Mvogo, Adjei, Laporte, Toure, Kalulu (Katseris 79), Louza (Abergel 68), Bakayoko, Yongwa (Mendy 61), Kari (Bouanani 61), Ponceau, Kroupi (Bamba 68).
PSG: Donnarumma, Mendes (Ethan Mbappe 73), Hernandez (Mukiele 64), Skriniar, Zague, Lee Kang In (Ugarte 61), Ruiz, Mayulu (Soler 61), Mbappe, Ramos (Muani 62), Dembele
Hong Duy
