Kylian Mbappe secures fourth consecutive Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award as PSG clinches record 11th title. With that award he became the only player to achieve it for four consecutive times. Previously Zlatan Ibrahimovic won three times in a row. Mbappe’s Record in 22/23 Season at Ligue 1 Kylian Mbappe, the renowned Paris Saint-Germain star, achieved a remarkable feat in Ligue 1 on Sunday night. He secured his fourth consecutive title as the French League Player of the Season. The 24-year-old prolific striker has not only netted 28 goals in the league but has also claimed the title of the top goal scorer in Ligue 1 for a remarkable five consecutive times. This season he also assisted five goals. 31st Edition of the Trophées UNFP Ceremony The ceremony took place in Paris, graced by the presence of numerous players. Mbappe became the winner, surpassing contenders such as Lionel Messi, Loïs Openda, Séko Fofana of Lens, and Jonathan David, the forward from Lille. Mbappe, along with his teammate Nuno Mendes, who received the Young Player of the Year award, became the sole PSG representative to claim individual awards. Notably, Lionel Messi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, did not secure the awards for the categories they were nominated in. However, Messi did not attend the ceremony as he went to Barcelona to watch the Coldplay concert. Read more: Indonesia to Host Argentina In a Friendly Football Match on June 2023 By securing this award, Mbappe has now claimed the prestigious title of Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. This remarkable achievement surpasses Zlatan Ibrahimovic's record of three awards, which he also earned during his time at PSG. Continuing an extraordinary streak, Paris Saint-Germain has once again produced the Player of the Year, marking the seventh consecutive year of their dominance. This outstanding line includes notable players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016), Edinson Cavani (2017), Neymar Jr (2018), and Kylian Mbappe (2019, 2021, and 2022). Having been named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2017, 2018, 2019), Mbappe continued his dominance by capturing the coveted Player of the Year award for the subsequent four seasons, extending his winning streak to a remarkable eight trophies in a row, until 2023. Will Mbappe Stay with PSG? Based on reports, unless the 24-year-old exercises an option to extend his contract until 2025, his contract with PSG is set to expire next year. Amidst swirling rumors about the French star's potential departure from the club next year, he personally confirmed and reassured fans of his commitment to stay with PSG for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, Mbappe's exceptional talent has garnered interest from Real Madrid. So, we will have to wait one more season to see if Mbappe continues playing with PSG. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Fixtures, Schedules, Teams, Head-to-Head Records Final Words This outstanding achievement sets his status as one of the league's brightest stars and highlights his dominance on the football field. With each passing season, Mbappe continues to elevate his game, fascinating fans with his remarkable skills and goal-scoring ability. As he adds another award to his growing list of achievements, the football world eagerly awaits to witness the next chapter in Kylian Mbappe's illustrious career.

The FIFA Men’s Player Award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football. It is presented annually by FIFA to the best male football player of the year, recognizing outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and success on the field. The award has been presented since 1991 (formerly known as FIFA World Player of the Year) and rebranded in 2016 as The Best FIFA Men’s Player. It has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the football calendar. From the early days of George Weah and Zinedine Zidane to the recent domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the award has been given to some of the most iconic and talented players to grace the game. This year FIFA has released the Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022. Let’s explore the players’ power ranking. Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022 The award is a true testament to the excellence of the modern game and the players who inspire us with their performances. It is a celebration of the best of the best in football and a moment for fans to honor the players who make the game so special. This year 14 footballers got the nomination. Players Country Club Julián Álvarez Argentina Manchester City FC Jude Bellingham England BV Borussia 09 Dortmund Karim Benzema France Real Madrid CF Kevin De Bruyne Belgium Manchester City FC Erling Haaland Norway Manchester City FC Achraf Hakimi Morocco Paris Saint-Germain Robert Lewandowski Poland FC Barcelona Sadio Mané Senegal FC Bayern München Kylian Mbappé France Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi Argentina Paris Saint-Germain Luka Modrić Croatia Real Madrid CF Neymar Brazil Paris Saint-Germain Mohamed Salah Egypt Liverpool FC Vinícius Junior Brazil Real Madrid CF                   Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 Power Ranking After considering last year’s performance, some players will have a close competition, while Messi has a great chance of winning. The player is selected by a panel of international media members, coaches, and national team captains. The winner is determined through a combination of these votes and a public online poll. Let’s see the power ranking of the 2022 award. #1 Lionel Messi Argentine star Lionel Messi is top of the list after his great performance at the World Cup 2022. Lionel Messi is a phenomenon, having provided fans with many years of awe-inspiring football. His immense talent has finally been rewarded with the ultimate honor; a World Cup victory. He led the team to success with a series of goals and assists that amazed supporters in every corner of the world. The long wait is finally over. However, his club PSG’s elimination from the Champions League might be disappointing. But overall, it was an excellent year for Messi both in the national team and club with a total 51 appearances, 30 assists, and 35 goals. Besides, the winning of Trophée des Champions will put Messi forward in the award. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory #2 Kylian Mbappe The young French talent Mbappe just turned 24 last month, and he can look back on his incredible career so far with pride. As a one-time World Cup winner and a World Cup runner-up, Mbappe is confident that he will break even more records at the tournament in years to come. His ambition and talent are certain to continue to be a formidable force in the world of football. Kylian Mbappe put his name in the history books with a sensational hat trick in the World Cup 2022 final against Argentina. This incredible feat earned him the Golden Boot and capped off an impressive run at the tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was a standout performer on the world stage, further reinforcing his reputation as one of the best players of his generation. #3 Karim Benzema Although Karim Benzema missed the World Cup, his incredible performance for Real Madrid and France has put him on the nominees' list. Further, his Ballon d’Or winning is another factor in being eligible for this list. In 2021/2022, Karim Benzema achieved a remarkable feat - he won the La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the Champions League titles with Real Madrid! This success is proof of the strength of his talent and commitment to the sport. It is a great accomplishment for him and for the team as a whole. Read More: Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr: End of an Era in European Football #4 Kevin De Bruyne Widely recognized as one of the finest midfielders in the world, Kevin De Bruyne has earned his praises through his impressive long-range passes, assists, and deadly goal-scoring ability. The Manchester City star shines on the pitch and is a top contender for any awards that are up for grabs. However, at the World Cup 2022, Kevin De Bruyne was unable to prevent Belgium’s aging team from an early exit in the group stage. His performance was far from impressive, leaving many feeling disappointed. But his incredible performance for Manchester City made him listed in the FIFA Men’s Player award. #5 Robert Lewandowski At the peak of his career, Robert Lewandowski has become one of the most renowned strikers in the world. His impressive goal-scoring record is well known, and he is being widely discussed as a potential recipient of both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards. The 34-year-old Polish international has made a name for himself in the footballing world. But, he could not put much effort into the national team at the World Cup. It seemed that this could be the last time we see Robert Lewandowski at a World Cup, and he did not have the successful tournament he had hoped for. Despite this, he still managed to score two goals at a World Cup, which is an impressive accomplishment. But, his club performance in Bayern Munich and Barcelona keep him on the best players list. Read More: SAFF U-20 Women's Championship kicks off in Dhaka February 3 Final Words These five players are the top contenders. However, among all the players, Messi is surely ahead in the race. His performance was hugely influential in Argentina’s success, helping them to defeat France in the penalty shootout. This result will undoubtedly give Messi a significant edge in the race to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player award 2022.

Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick seemingly from out of nowhere to electrify the World Cup final, he ended the tournament as the leading scorer with eight goals, and he still missed out on winning a second straight title. The France superstar was on the losing side of an epic final against Argentina that was settled in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw on Sunday. He was then consoled on the field by French President Emmanuel Macron. “Kylian has really left his mark on this final,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. Read more: Messi wins World Cup to push claim to be soccer's GOAT Mbappé had been the leader France desperately needed as time was running out with the defending champions trailing 2-0 and playing poorly. The forward had also been almost invisible up to that point. But his goals carried France back into the match — twice. First, late in regulation time. Then again deep in extra time. Mbappé converted a penalty in the 80th minute and then scored with a volley from just inside the area in the 81st. It took only 97 seconds for him to get France even with Argentina and the great Lionel Messi. Mbappé scored a second penalty in extra time, about 10 minutes after Messi had given Argentina the lead again in what became a compelling duel between the two players. Mbappé's hat trick was only the second in a World Cup final — the other was by England striker Geoff Hurst in 1966. The Frenchman leaves Qatar with the Golden Boot trophy as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. At the age of 23, he's matched Pelé's career total of 12 World Cup goals. But Mbappé couldn't quite match the Brazil great's back-to-back World Cup titles — both players were teenagers when they won their first one, Pelé in 1958 and Mbappé in 2018. One minute before Mbappé turned the game on its head, Argentina’s fans began to taunt him. Chants of “Olé, Olé” rained down from the stands at Lusail Stadium as Mbappé futilely chased the ball while his opponents passed it over and around him. Read more: Messi fulfils his destiny, Argentina win third World Cup Mbappé gestured in frustration with his right arm at the apparent hopelessness of the situation. But after scoring his first two goals, Mbappé surged into the Argentina half looking for a game-winning third. His darting, twisting run resulted in a shot deflected just too high. Once he eventually got the hat trick to make it 3-3 in extra time, Mbappé set out for a fourth. His curling cross barely eluded the head of substitute Randal Kolo Muani, and a final dribble deep into the Argentina penalty area was scrambled clear as he looked to shoot. He shouted out loud as his last attempt to win the game single-handedly slipped away. Mbappé tried to set the tone in the penalty shootout, taking responsibility for the first kick. He converted the penalty but France still ended up losing 4-2. Messi did the same for Argentina to start the shootout, but his teammates all scored their penalties. During the shootout, Mbappé made sure he was the first to console Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni on their slow walks back to the center circle after their failures to score. Mbappé stood bent over in the center circle, hands on his knees, as Argentina defender Gonzalo Montiel prepared to take the decisive kick. He then squatted, saw the net ripple and walked away alone amid the Argentina celebrations. Deschamps eventually came over behind his player to put arms around his neck. Mbappé soon went to the team dugout and sat slumped in a chair with his dark blue shirt pulled up over his face to hide his emotions. Long after the game was over, Mbappé left the stadium with his head bowed and the World Cup trophy securely in the hands of Messi.

Morocco made history, but couldn’t make it past Kylian Mbappé and France. The first African country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup was eventually beaten by defending champions France, losing 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday. There is still the chance to win the third place match against Croatia on Saturday, but the dream of becoming the first team from outside of Europe or South America to go all the way to a final is over. Read more: Morocco face France in politically charged World Cup semifinal Morocco coach Walid Regragui and his players became the unlikeliest story of the World Cup and even in defeat, pushed France all the way. “My players gave everything. They’ve gone as far as they could,” said Regragui. “They wanted to rewrite the history books, but you can’t win a World Cup with miracles, you have to do it with hard work and that’s what we are going to do, keep working.” EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE No one could have expected Morocco to break new boundaries for African soccer by making it to the semifinals. It was also the first Arab nation to go so far at a World Cup. And it did so on merit - topping a group that contained 2018 finalist Croatia and second-ranked Belgium, before progressing past favorites Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages. But perhaps Morocco’s best performance came against France when it had to contend with injuries to key players and conceding a goal inside five minutes. In the face of those challenges it still managed to pressure France for long periods until Randal Kolo Muani’s 79th minute strike sealed the win for Les Bleus. The performance typified Morocco’s spirit at this tournament and the quality of its players. Read more: Will Messi's last performance in World Cup help Argentina win the trophy in Qatar? WHO’S OUT? Regragui has won plenty of admirers for his tactical acumen against some of the giants of international soccer. It will be interesting to see if any offers come his way from leading club teams in Europe - and whether he would be tempted to take up a new challenge. He says he is committed to leading Morocco at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, which will come as a relief to the country’s fans. Key defender and captain Romain Saiss is 32 and may have played in his last World Cup, but Morocco has a lot of young players, who could go again in four years when the tournament is held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. WHO’S NEXT? Midfielder Azz-Eddine Ounahi has been one of the brightest emerging talents at the tournament and could be the subject of interest from leading clubs in January or next summer. At 22 he is yet to reach his peak and currently plays his club soccer for Angers, the bottom club in France’s first division. Achraf Hakimi is already established at Paris Saint-Germain, but the 24-year-old right back has the potential to develop further and lead a golden generation for Morocco. WHAT’S NEXT? First of all Morocco wants to round off an unforgettable World Cup by winning its third place match against Croatia. Focus will then turn to the African Cup of Nations and Regragui is comfortable with the added expectation after the success in Qatar. “There’s more pressure. We know that we were often the favorites, but now in the semifinals we couldn’t hide,” he said. “I think we will have a bit of time to find our way in the competition. The next match is in March. “But like I said before, I’m not hiding. If we don’t get to at least the semifinals, then I will leave. It has to be that way.”

A huge news came up on Tuesday just before PSG's Champions League match against Benfica, that Kylian Mbappe is not happy at the club. Therefore, after the signing of a new deal with the Ligue 1 giant a few months ago, Kylian Mbappe transfer speculation has once again emerged. The French forward wants to leave Paris Saint-Germain as early as next winter's transfer window. Let’s take a look at the clubs that could sign Mbappe in January. What is upsetting Kylian Mbappe at PSG? It’s bizarre how things can change dramatically, especially in Kylian Mbappe’s case. The World Cup winner is one of the most sought-after players of this generation and has no shortage of suitors. Read: Forbes Highest-paid Footballers 2022: Mbappe overtakes Messi, Ronaldo Every big club wants to sign him, but Mbappe's childhood dream is to play for Real Madrid one day in his career. His desire could have come true had he not signed a new mega-money contract with PSG last May. Mbappe opted to stay three more years at Paris Saint-Germain by signing a 3-year contract. However, the Qatari-owned club agreed to fulfill some of Mbappe’s wishes to convince him to extend his contract. One of Kylian's major wishes was to play at his preferred position. He wants to play on the left side rather than as a proper no.9. But this hasn’t been fulfilled as the French forward has been used as the club’s main striker. On the other hand, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. have been deployed just behind him, and they have a more free role. This decision has upset Mbappe big time and now he wants to move away from PSG as early as next January, multiple sources confirmed. Read: Making waves: Qatar World Cup hires 3rd cruise ship as floating hotel

Football nowadays offers more money thanks to its enormous appeal to top-level professional players in all parts of the world. According to the most recent Forbes list of the highest-paid football players for 2022, one may get an idea of how much a top football player can make. As per the US magazine, the French forward, Kylian Mbappe, has reached the 100 million marks in earnings at only 23 years old. Who made the top 10 in the 2022 Forbes highest-paid football players list? Based on salaries, bonuses, and off-field earnings, which include cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances, memorabilia, and businesses operated by the players, were taken into account when Forbes made the list for the highest earners for the 2022-2023 season. PSG’s three superstar footballers, Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar, made the list. Manchester City’s two top earners, Haaland and De Bruyne, also found a place in the top 10 list. Here are the top 10 Forbes highest-paid soccer players 2022. Read: Cristiano Ronaldo: Portuguese star completes 700 club goals 10. Kevin De Bruyne Nationality: Belgium | Age: 31 | Current Club: Manchester City | Total Earnings: $29 millions Apart from being one of the top earners at Manchester City football club in England, Kevin De Bruyne has 11 brand deals. He has $4 million in off-field earnings through his image. 09. Andres Iniesta Nationality: Spain | Age: 38 | Current Club: Vissel Kobe | Total Earnings: $30 millions Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 and has since made a fortune playing for the Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He has $25 million in on-field earnings. 08. Eden Hazard Nationality: Belgium | Age: 31 | Current Club: Real Madrid | Total Earnings: $31 millions Hazard has failed to make an impact for Real Madrid because of injury issues. However, that doesn’t affect his overall earnings. Hazard has $27 million in on-field earnings with Los Blancos. 07. Robert Lewandowski Nationality: Poland | Age: 34 | Current Club: FC Barcelona | Total Earnings: $35 millions Barcelona’s summer signings Lewandowski has found himself at No.7 with a total of $35 million in earnings. Lewandowski’s $8 million in off-field earnings proves that he has a massive fan following.  06. Erling Haaland Nationality: Norway | Age: 22 | Current Club: Manchester City | Total Earnings: $39 millions Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland, has deservedly earned a place in the top 10 list of highest-paid earners. Man City has given Erling $35 million for his footballing services. Read: Will Argentina’s 36-year trophy drought end with Messi's final World Cup? 05. Mohamed Salah Nationality: Egypt | Age: 30 | Current Club: Liverpool | Total Earnings: $53 millions Mohamed Salah recently signed a new contract with Liverpool and that has made him among the top earners in football. Salah’s overall earnings exceeded $50 million. 04. Neymar Jr. Nationality: Brazil | Age: 30 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $87 millions Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. couldn’t reach the 100 million mark but still pocketed $87 million. He has earned $55 million for his on-field service to PSG. 03. Cristiano Ronaldo Nationality: Portugal | Age: 37 | Current Club: Manchester United | Total Earnings: $100 millions The 37-year-old Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, recently completed his 700 club goals and is still going strong. Ronaldo’s off-field earnings of $60 million have surpassed his earnings with Manchester United. 02. Lionel Messi Nationality: Argentina | Age: 35 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $120 millions Lionel Andres Messi, the Argentine superstar, has a total income of $120 million. Paris Saint-Germain has given $65 million for his magical footballing services on the field. 01. Kylian Mbappe Nationality: France | Age: 23 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $128 millions Paris Saint-Germain managed to sign Kylian Mbappe to a new contract last summer and make him the highest-paid footballer in the world. The French giant has given him more than $100 million for his service as a player. Read: Qatar World Cup 2022: Viewer's guide Aftermath Each year, the renowned American business magazine, Forbes, compiles the list of the highest earners among football players. The highlights of the Forbes Highest-Paid footballers 2022 were Erling Haaland's debut and Kylian Mbappe's position at the top.

Kylian Mbappe scored a late winner as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain edged Nice 2-1 to restore its two-point lead over Marseille in the French league on Saturday. Mbappe pounced on a pass from Nordi Mukiele to beat Kasper Schmeichel with a low strike in the 83rd minute. The France striker tied Neymar as the joint top scorer in the league with eight. Lionel Messi gave PSG the lead in the 29th with a curling free kick into the top corner from 22 yards. Messi's fifth league goal was one shy of his league tally last season when he took time to adapt to a new club and struggled with knocks and a bout of COVID-19. Gaetan Laborde equalized from close range just after halftime after the PSG defense failed to clear a cross from Youcef Atal. “We started the second half with no energy, no rhythm and no intensity, and we let Nice have more possession,” PSG coach Christophe Galtier said. “We put ourselves in trouble by running after the ball, by not winning our duels and not playing the ball out from the back like we should have. Nice equalized quite logically. So, we had to inject more energy, more speed and more verticality.” Messi shone with Argentina during the international break by scoring twice against Honduras and twice against Jamaica, and could have added a second goal on the stroke of halftime with a powerful strike that Schmeichel tipped over the bar. PSG needed Messi’s brilliance because forward Hugo Ekitike, who got his first start this season, proved toothless and didn’t make runs in behind the defense like Mbappe does. Nice pressed high up the pitch to prevent PSG from creating chances. That defensive ploy worked until the 27th when Messi started a dribbling run, outpacing Mario Lemina before taking on Dante, who tripped the Argentina playmaker and conceded the free kick that led to the opening goal. Ahead of a key Champions League match at Benfica next week, PSG rested Mbappe and Nuno Mendes until both came off the bench in the second half. Also, Rennes is starting to gel after an uneven start to the season, climbing to fifth place after beating 10-man Strasbourg 3-1. Strasbourg defender Gerzino Nyamsi was sent off for planting his studs into Benjamin Bourigeaud’s thigh with his follow through after clearing the ball in the 28th. That was not long after veteran striker Kevin Gameiro had a goal disallowed for offside. Arnaud Kalimuendo took advantage in the 38th by controlling a cross from Adrien Truffert to fire into the bottom corner on the turn. Rennes doubled the lead with a low strike from Martin Terrier in the 49th. Kalimuendo set up Amine Gouiri for the third goal in the 61st. “We are refinding our rhythm from the end of last season,” Terrier said. “There were new signings, they needed time to settle in.” Rennes signed mobile strikers Kalimuendo from Paris Saint-Germain and Gouiri from Nice in the summer to replace the departing Gaetan Laborde, a more traditional center forward. Strasbourg managed a consolation goal from a penalty by Habib Diallo in the 72nd after Rennes right back Hamari Traore brought down Gameiro. They remained in the relegation zone and the only winless team in the league.

Undefeated in six league matches including five wins and 24 goals scored, Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé are in scintillating form ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Juventus. Mbappé scored twice from Lionel Messi assists as they won 3-0 at 10-man Nantes to remain leader of the French league on Saturday. But the French champions were dealt a blow from Vitinha's apparent knee injury. The Portuguese midfielder was forced off the pitch in the first half after falling on the turf following a late tackle from defender Fabio, who was sent off. PSG coach Christophe Galtier said Vitinha took a “big knock on his knee cap” but did not say whether he could recover in time for Tuesday's match against the Serie A side at the Parc des Princes. Read:PSG drops points after 1-1 draw with Monaco; Marseille wins Nantes trailed from the 17th minute after Mbappé's superb goal with a curled right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the opposite corner. He was set up by Messi on the break. Messi was again the provider for Mbappé's seventh goal — this time from close range — which was initially disallowed for offside in the 53rd but given after a VAR check. Nuno Mendes completed the scoring in the 67th from the rebound after Neymar hit the post. PSG leads undefeated Marseille in the standings on goal difference. SANCHEZ MAKES AMENDS After missing a penalty midweek, Alexis Sanchez made amends to cap Marseille's 2-0 win at Auxerre with his third goal in five league matches. Sanchez, who joined Marseille from Inter Milan last month on a free transfer, came off the bench near the hour mark and sealed Marseille's fifth league win in the 83rd minute with a low shot from Matteo Gendouzi's back pass. Marseille has 16 of a possible 18 points. Every time the nine-time champions have managed to remain unbeaten in their six opening matches in the 21st century, they have finished the season in the top three. Marseille will travel to Tottenham next week for the start of its Champions League campaign and coach Igor Tudor rotated his players ahead of the big game in London. Tudor made seven changes, with Sanchez among those left on the bench after he missed from the spot in the 1-0 win against Clermont. Read:Lewandowski leads Barcelona; Benzema keeps Madrid perfect It took only eight minutes for the Marseille visitors to find the net when Gerson scored from the rebound after Cengiz Under dribbled past an Auxerre player in the box and hit the post. Auxerre, which returned to the top-flight after an 11-year absence, was under pressure throughout the first half as Marseille dominated possession in an efficient 3-4-3 system. The hosts played better in the second half but could muster only half-chances. TOKO-EKAMBI SCORES TWICE Karl Toko-Ekambi continued his good run of form by scoring twice in Lyon's 5-0 thrashing of struggling Angers. After being decisive midweek with the winner against Auxerre, Toko Ekambi put the hosts in front against his former team in the 31st minute and scored again near the hour mark. Alexandre Lacazette, Castello Lukeba and Moussa Dembele were also on the scoresheet for third-placed Lyon.

Kylian Mbappe scored after just eight seconds of play to claim the joint-fastest goal in the history of the French league on Sunday. Mbappe found the net at the start of a 7-1 win for defending champion Paris Saint-Germain over Lille on Sunday. The visitors needed just four passes from kickoff to score as Lionel Messi hit a superb ball over the top for Mbappe, who cleverly lobbed Lille goalkeeper Leo Jardim. PSG coach Christophe Galtier gave credit to his technical staff and to the club's Under-19 team. From kickoff, Neymar played the ball back before receiving it again and passing to Messi, who spotted Mbappe’s run and had the technical brilliance to exploit it. Read:Thriving Modric helps Madrid get over Casemiro's departure “Our Under-19 team did it in the youth league against Salzburg,” Galtier told a news conference. “We showed it to the players. They were OK to try it. So, we worked on it in training and it was very well executed tonight.” The French league tweeted that Mbappe’s goal ties midfielder Michel Rio who also needed just eight seconds to score for Caen against Cannes in 1992. French sports paper L’Equipe was more cautious, calling it the fastest goal since Rio’s with Mbappe’s goal closer to nine seconds, it said. The French league started in 1932. Galtier was referrring to Edouard Michut’s goal in a 3-1 loss to Salzburg in the youth league in March. Michut needed 11 seconds to score according to PSG’s official website. The French coach also said that his staff studied similar kickoff routines in the German, English and Spanish leagues, mentioning Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano as teams that scored such goals. Mbappe had a hat trick while Neymar scored two goals and provided three assists against Lille as PSG extended its perfect start to the season with three wins from three games.

There were several transfer speculations around the world's most sought-after player, Kylian Mbappe (May 21), before he signed a new deal with PSG on Saturday. The French international has signed a three-year contract extension with his current club, Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe was presented to the fans before the team's last league match against Metz, bearing the number 2025 shirt. He was heavily linked with Real Madrid, but he ultimately turned down Europe's most successful team to stay in Paris for a few more years. Background of Kylian Mbappe's transfer saga Mbappe has enthralled the world since bursting onto the scene with Monaco in 2015. The 19-year-old Mbappe opted to stay in France and accepted a loan agreement with PSG in 2017, despite the fact that every major team in Europe wanted him. Later, the deal was extended until 2022. Kylian is a lifelong Real Madrid fan. There are pictures of him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo when he was at Madrid. The World Cup winner has a dream to play for Madrid at some point in his career. Thankfully, his footballing skills have made the dream even more realistic. Madrid president Florentino Perez was desperate to sign him, as the club always does to recruit talented footballers. Football fans even say Mbappe to Real Madrid is a marriage made in heaven. Read US Soccer equalizes pay in milestone with women, men The rumors of Mbappe leaving PSG emerged last summer when Lionel Messi surprisingly left FC Barcelona and signed a three-year contract with the French club. With one year left of the current contract, Mbappe was willing to leave PSG for Real Madrid in Summer 2021. However, Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser al-Khelaifi was reluctant to let the most priceless footballer in the world go, despite the fact that Real Madrid were willing to pay 200 million euros for the player. Kylian could leave the club for free in the summer of 2022, as his ultimate goal is to play for Real Madrid. However, the Qatar-based PSG is probably the richest club in world football right now. Somehow, they believe that they can convince the player and his parents to sign a new contract before it expires on June 30, 2022. Meanwhile, the transfer saga continued throughout the whole season. On one morning, a report arrives that Kylian has reached an agreement with Real Madrid, and on the other morning, a new report arrives that all is not done yet. In the meantime, PSG lost to Madrid in the Round of 16 clash in March. During the match, the Madrid fans cheered for Kylian as they believed he would eventually land in the city next summer. Read Lionel Messi: The Argentine sensation considers joining Inter Miami in 2023 Finally, Mbappe's entourage confirmed that the player will make his decision before PSG's last league game against Metz this season. Mbappe's mother told the press that both clubs have given him almost the same deal, and it is now up to her son to select where he will play next. After months of speculation, Kylian Mbappe confirmed on Saturday that he will stay at PSG for three more years as he believes there is more to give to the club. In addition, he doesn’t want to lose the opportunity to play alongside Messi for at least one more year. Why was Paris Saint-Germain so anxious to keep Kylian Mbappe? One of the main reasons PSG didn’t want to lose Mbappe is because the 2022 World Cup is to begin in the November-December window, which will bring them huge commercial value. Besides, the club will lose a huge chunk of money in terms of brand value and TV rights if Mbappe leaves. They wanted him to stay at the club for a few more years and help the club achieve its expected goals. Read English soccer player Jake Daniels says he is gay Why did Mbappe choose to remain with PSG? Many football pundits believe Kylian’s decision to remain at PSG was heavily affected by Real Madrid’s recent success in the UEFA Champions League. If Madrid wins the UCL this year, there will be nothing significant to offer Madrid in the recent past. The thing he can bring is commercial value. As Mbappe wants to contribute more than just commercial aspects, he prefers to stay at PSG rather than move to Madrid for a new challenge. Paris Saint-Germain have yet to win a Champions League trophy, and if Kylian helps them to win Europe’s most prestigious tournament, then he will always be remembered as a cult hero by the Parisians. Besides, the sources also confirmed that PSG have given Kylian Mbappe a few more things which Real Madrid couldn’t offer. They reportedly have given the power of PSG’s acquisition in terms of who is coming and who is going. At PSG, Mbappe will always have a say in any major decision PSG makes for their first team, at least as long as he stays at the club. Multiple sources have also confirmed that Mbappe has already started to use his power and reportedly told the hierarchy to terminate the contracts of the club’s sporting director Leonardo and head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Mbappe prefers Luis Campos as the new sporting director, who worked with him during his time at Monaco. Campos is known to have the ability to find raw talents. Read BAN vs SL First Test 2022: Four key Takeaways for Bangladesh Mbappe also wants to play for Zinedine Zidane, who aspires to manage the French national team in the near future. PSG have to convince Zidane big time to manage the club. Reports have also claimed that Mbappe wants Neymar to move somewhere else and bring his compatriots Dembele and Pogba to Paris next summer. Real Madrid's response after failing to sign the French Wunderkind After failing to secure Mbappe’s signature for the third time, Madrid fans are furious over the player, and if Zidane manages PSG next summer, that will also be seen as a direct betrayal by Los Blancos supporters. The tension between the supporters of both sides has switched to a new height and it will be evident in any future matches between the two sides. Meanwhile, La Liga President Javier Tebas has shown his frustration after Real missed out on bringing Mbappe to Madrid. Delaying the confirmation also led them to miss out on signing Erling Haaland, who is all set to join Manchester City next summer. In an official statement, La Liga has confirmed that they will take legal action against PSG as they feel it was a scandalous incident and also showed their concern over the economic aspect of the deal. Read Mushfiqur to skip West Indies series to perform hajj How much will Kylian make with his new deal? In a three-year contract that will last till June 2025, Mbappe reportedly earns $5 million per week, which is double his present salary. The contract also includes a signing bonus of $125 million. Besides, Mbappe will have full control of his image rights. Way forward Apart from financial benefits, one of the reasons Paris Saint-Germain was so keen to get Mbappe was to win the Champions League. They came close to winning Europe's top club football competition in 2020, but fell 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the final. PSG will be one of the favorites to win the Champions League in 2022–2023 after retaining one of the top players in the world. PSG require some new signings to strengthen their squad. They also need a manager who is capable of properly managing the players. However, PSG supporters can rejoice for the time being since wonder youngster Kylian Mbappe has decided to stay with the club for another three years, which is a major success for them and a major concern for Real Madrid, who have never faced a scenario like this before. Read English Premier League 2021-2022: Scenarios for Championship, Top Four, and Relegation