When Real Madrid meet the French champions in Wednesday’s Club World Cup semifinal, Kylian Mbappe will encounter Paris Saint Germain for the first time since his debatable leaving in 2024.
Last year, Mbappe left on a free transfer much to the annoyance of the Qatari leadership of the team, with 256 goals in 308 games becoming PSG’s alltime leading scorer. Mbappe’s claim for €55 million in unpaid bonuses set off a legal argument following the move. After being removed from PSG’s preseason squad in 2023, he also filed then withdrew a complaint of moral harassment.
Having scored 43 goals in 56 games under new coach Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, the 26yearold has been outstanding. Having missed the group stage because of sickness, he came back to score a breathtaking overhead kick in the victory over Dortmund in the quarterfinals.
Following their Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan and Club World Cup quarterfinal 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich, PSG, under Luis Enrique, are also doing well.
Mbappe’s reunion with his former team brings yet another layer of drama to an already huge fight at MetLife Stadium with emotions running high and even higher stakes.
