Kylian Mbappe is set to face his former club Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since joining Real Madrid, when the two sides meet in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. While he remains PSG’s all-time leading scorer, his departure has left a bitter taste — raising the question: Is Mbappe truly a PSG legend, or merely a star now despised by the fans he once thrilled?
A Broken Relationship
Once hailed as the face of PSG’s future, the Bondy-born striker joined the French giants from AS Monaco in 2017 for €180 million. Over seven seasons, he scored 256 goals and provided 108 assists in 308 matches, cementing himself as the club’s greatest goalscorer of all time.
But the fairytale soured in the final years of his contract. Tensions grew between Mbappe and PSG’s board, particularly president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who once criticized him as “a star with unreasonable behavior.”
Mbappe had accused PSG of pressuring him to sign a new contract in 2023 after he declined to extend his deal. Instead of being allowed to train with the main team, the 1998-born player was relegated to a separate training group for players not included in the club’s plans.
Mbappe described PSG’s actions as coercive and threatening, claiming the club tried to force him into signing an unwanted contract. He also alleged that PSG withheld €55 million, including loyalty bonuses and unpaid wages from the 2022/23 season.
Mbappe’s lawyer confirmed that the player had dropped the case related to PSG’s alleged harassment and coercion. The lawsuit, originally filed in May, addressed PSG’s treatment of the French star during a tense contract standoff in 2023, including his exclusion from the main squad and being forced to train alone.
However, the Real Madrid forward is still pursuing legal action to recover €55 million in unpaid wages from PSG, covering the final months of his contract. According to L’Équipe, this financial dispute remains heated between Mbappe and PSG’s leadership.
While some supporters continue to honor his legacy, many view him as a traitor who abandoned his hometown club in pursuit of personal glory. French newspaper Le Monde summarized the sentiment: “Mbappe may be PSG’s greatest-ever player, but many fans consider the way he left as betrayal. PSG look stronger without him.”
PSG’s UEFA Champions League victory in the 2024/25 season only strengthened that belief. Under Luis Enrique, the French club found success with a collective playing style — without their former talisman.
A Battle for Legacy
As Mbappe prepares to face PSG in the Club World Cup semifinals, one burning question remains: Will he celebrate if he scores?
According to L’Équipe, Mbappe has decided not to celebrate against his former club, out of respect for the supporters and institution that shaped his rise from a youth prospect to a global superstar.
While respectful, the lack of celebration won’t dull his competitive edge. Mbappe will be eager to prove his worth against the very club that now seems to thrive without him.
Despite Opta giving PSG a 39% chance of winning the Club World Cup (compared to Real Madrid’s 24%), all eyes will be on Mbappe. PSG’s recent European success and Real’s trophyless season have cast Mbappe’s departure in a controversial light.
Once a symbol of PSG’s future, Mbappe now faces the paradox of being both the club’s greatest striker and its most controversial figure.
Redefining His Place in History
For Mbappe, the semifinal clash is more than just a game — it’s a defining moment for his legacy. Will he be remembered as PSG’s greatest legend, or as the idol who turned his back on Paris?
His performance may not only shape the outcome of the match, but determine how history remembers his relationship with the club where he once reigned supreme.
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