The Sad Paradox of Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé left the Montjuic classic on Sunday looking dejected. Although he did not play a memorable match, his incredible efficiency kept Real Madrid in the game until the end. He made history by equalling the legendary Ferenc Puskas as the only two footballers to score a league hat-trick at the Blaugrana stronghold, but the defeat left Barça as the virtual league champions. The Bondy star left his mark by converting a penalty given by Szczesny, beating the Polish goalkeeper in a subsequent one-on-one, and capitalising on a gift from Vinicius, but his joy was short-lived.

Mbappé's individual performance also saw him become Real Madrid's top scorer in his debut season, surpassing Chilean Iván Zamorano, and overtaking Robert Lewandowski by two goals for the Pichichi trophy. However, despite the large number of goals scored (39 so far, with 27 in the league), Real Madrid ends the year empty-handed, aside from the minor titles of the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. It can be concluded that despite the French forward's good performance, Carlo Ancelotti's team has failed.

This is not the first time Mbappé has scored three goals that were insufficient to win a decisive match. The major precedent of this sad paradox for the French star occurred in the World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina won on penalties against France. That day, Mbappé was outstanding in Doha, lifting Didier Deschamps' team, which was losing 2-0. Mbappé scored two penalties and a beautiful volley, and did not miss his shot in the decisive shootout. Despite all this, he could not adorn himself with his second World Cup star.

There are more occasions where a great individual performance does not translate into a collective victory. Notably, the 2022 round of 16 tie against what is now his club. The narrow victory of PSG at the Parc des Princes, with his goal in the first leg, and the 3-1 defeat at the Bernabéu, with another goal from Mbappé and a hat-trick from Karim Benzema, left him with a bitter taste. Kylian demonstrated in that clash why Madrid had to sign him.

His record includes a World Cup and seven leagues in France, six with PSG and the first with Monaco, and up to 22 hat-tricks, but the Champions League remains a thorn in the French forward's side. One of the reasons, apart from the financial and even political pressures received, for this transfer taking so long was because Mbappé wanted to lead PSG to win their first Champions League. With Kylian in their ranks, but performances that went rather unnoticed in decisive moments, the Parisians reached a final, lost to Bayern, and two semi-finals.

The French star was always surrounded by great players at PSG, forming an attacking trident with Messi and Neymar. Even so, they never quite connected, and Mbappé decided to sign for Real Madrid. In theory, achieving the dream of winning the Champions League would be easier at the most decorated club in the competition.

But the twists of fate have meant that this year, Ancelotti's team crashed out against Arsenal in Europe, while Luis Enrique's PSG, less glamorous but more balanced, is in the Munich final. Should the French fulfil their favourites' status and overcome Inter, the million-dollar question is what will go through Mbappé's mind seeing the club where he spent seven seasons win the coveted trophy just as he leaves.