PSG vs AC Milan tips and predictions: Mbappe’s class to settle tight tussle in Paris
Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan clash in arguably the biggest match of this week’s Champions League group stage fixtures.
After an initial loan spell, Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco for 180million Euros in 2018, becoming the second most expensive player of all time behind team-mate Neymar.
The forward is a six-time title winner in France and was awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award in 2022/23, the fourth time he has claimed that gong. He was the league's top scorer in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23
Mbappe was part of the France side that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, finishing the tournament with four goals including a clinical strike against Croatia in the final.
He became the first teenager since Brazil legend Pele to score in a World Cup final and was awarded the FIFA Best Young Player award.
Mbappe took his tally of World Cup final goals to a record four with a hat-trick in the 2022 final as France drew 3-3 with Argentina before being beaten on penalties.
Mbappe began his career at AS Bondy before joining Monaco's youth set-up at the age of 14.
In December 2015, he made his first-team debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with SM Caen, becoming the club's youngest ever player - a record previously held by France legend Thierry Henry. In February 2016, the forward scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 3-1 win over Troyes. A month later, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
Mbappe made a name for himself in the 2016/17 season, scoring 15 goals in 29 games as Monaco won the Ligue 1 title. In February 2017, he was on target in a 5-3 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League, becoming the second youngest Frenchman to score in Europe behind Karim Benzema. The forward finished the competition with six goals as Monaco were knocked out by Juventus in the semi-finals.
After impressing at Monaco, Mbappe earned a move to PSG in 2017 on an initial loan deal. The forward made an immediate impact, scoring in a 5-1 win over Metz on his debut.
After just one season at the Parc des Princes, he was awarded the prestigious Golden Boy award, a title previously held by the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero.
In 2018, the French giants paid €145million to make the move permanent, plus another €35million in add-ons, making Mbappe the second most expensive player of all time behind Neymar.
The Frenchman was given the prestigious number seven shirt, which was vacated by Lucas Moura when the Brazilian joined Tottenham Hotspur.
In 2018/19, he was awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award after scoring 33 goals in just 29 matches, making him the league's top scorer.
Le quotidien d'un artiste.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) December 5, 2019
⭐️ @KMbappe pic.twitter.com/1JoVXiDHBS
Mbappe also finished the 2019/20 campaign as top scorer, finding the net 18 times in 20 matches before the season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the 2021 transfer window, Mbappe's future at PSG came under question. Real Madrid - a club Mbappe has often spoke admirably about - enquired about him and eventually submitted a bid of £167million, but PSG refused to respond.
Los Blancos eventually pulled out of the deal, waiting for Mbappe's contract to run out in 2022 to sign him on a free transfer. However, surprisingly Mbappe extended his contract with PSG until 2025 to make himself the highest-paid player in world football on wages of around £1m a week, with a £100m signing-on fee.
PSG have also made concessions over image rights and bonus payments for goals, Ballon d'Or honours and Champions League success.
Mbappe became PSG's record league goalscorer in April 2023 after netting the opener in a 3-1 victory against beat Lens.
PSG went on to claim back-to-back Ligue 1 crowns in May 2023 with one game to spare. Mbappe scored 41 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Mbappe's first taste of international success came in the 2016 UEFA Under-19 Championship. He finished the tournament with five goals as France beat Italy in the final to lift the trophy.
The forward made his debut for the senior team as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Luxembourg in 2017, becoming the second-youngest player to represent France since Maryan Wisnieski. His first international goal came in a 4-0 win over the Netherlands in August 2017.
Mbappe was influential in France's 2018 World Cup win in Russia, scoring five goals and becoming the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele. The forward was awarded the FIFA Best Young Player award, a title previously held by the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Michael Owen.
DANS L’HISTOIRE À JAMAIS 🌍🏆... pic.twitter.com/NmzRHreXj1
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 16, 2018
Mbappe narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot award, finishing just a goal behind England forward Harry Kane. He also became the youngest French international to score in a World Cup after getting on the scoresheet in a 1-0 win over Peru in the group stage.
Having gone into Sunday's showdown at Lusail Stadium with five goals already to his name for the tournament, Mbappe was presented with the chance to add another - and give France a lifeline at 2-0 down - when awarded a penalty with around 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Mbappe was reportedly dating 23-year-old French model Alicia Aylies, who was crowned Miss France 2017, since in 2018. However, rumours are rife that the relationship ended in 2022.
Mbappe's father, Wilfried, is a soccer coach and has been the forward's agent since his career began at AS Bondy.
His younger brother, Ethan, is also a talented player and is currently signed to PSG's youth ranks.
Mbappe ranks 35th in the world's highest-paid athletes according to Forbes' April 2022 list, and is reportedly now the highest-paid soccer player in the world, on £1m a week, following his contract extension with PSG in May 2022.
In 2018, Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot named Mbappe its first active player global ambassador.
In addition, the forward's first Nike Mercurial shoe launched in December 2019 and several months later he became the cover star of EA's hugely popular FIFA video game series. The list of previous cover stars included the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard. Mbappe's trademark crossed arms goal celebration has also been added to the game.
He was announced as the cover for FIFA 22 and as he was on the cover of FIFA 21, he will be the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to appear on back-to-back covers.
Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan clash in arguably the biggest match of this week’s Champions League group stage fixtures.
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