Following Real Madrid's 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Kylian Mbappe appeared somber, rubbing his head in apparent bewilderment as he paced the field. He politely acknowledged his former teammates as they approached to shake his hand.
Sports Illustrated (SI) posted a video of Mbappe's reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter. By the afternoon of 10/7, the video had garnered 1.6 million views.
Mbappe spent seven years with PSG, winning six Ligue 1 titles and setting a club record with 256 goals. In 2024, he declined all contract extensions from PSG to join Real Madrid, believing it would offer a better chance at winning the Champions League. Ironically, less than a year after his departure, PSG secured the Champions League title alongside a domestic treble.
The Club World Cup semi-final compounded Mbappe's disappointment. Not only did Real Madrid lose to PSG, but they also exited the tournament with a resounding 4-0 defeat. Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele put Real Madrid down 3-0 within the first 24 minutes, before Goncalo Ramos sealed the 4-0 victory for the French side. Mbappe himself was largely ineffective, receiving a 6.3 rating from Fotmob, significantly lower than Dembele's 8.6.
"The European champions crushed the great Real Madrid like a mosquito," wrote French newspaper L'Equipe. "Their desire was boundless and unstoppable."
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Mbappe (left) dejected during PSG's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid on the evening of 9/7. Photo: AFP |
Mbappe (left) dejected during PSG's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid on the evening of 9/7. Photo: AFP
The Athletic (UK) described the match as a humiliation for Real Madrid and Mbappe, also criticizing the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up, Vinicius. German newspaper Bild labeled Real Madrid's performance a disaster, completely dominated by PSG from start to finish.
"The scoreline should have been higher. Two clear errors from Asensio and Rüdiger early in the game set the stage for Real Madrid's humiliation," stated Bild.
Le Parisien (France) praised PSG's overwhelming dominance. The newspaper referenced PSG's 5-0 victory over Inter in the Champions League final five weeks prior, while using terms like empty, ridiculous, and useless to describe Real Madrid's performance.
"Global warning: If you are building a team and facing PSG, don't do anything. Just pray and wait for the game to end," Le Parisien quipped.
Thanh Quy (via X, SI, L'Equipe, The Athletic, Bild, Le Parisien)
