In a thrilling match against Nantes, Kylian Mbappe made an addition to his already impressive list of accomplishments. The 24-year-old forward scored his 201st goal for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), surpassing Edinson Cavani as the club’s all-time top scorer.
The French forward had drawn level with Edinson Cavani’s record last week, and it was worth the wait for Mbappé as he scored in injury time to secure a victory that puts PSG 11 points clear at the top of the table.
How PSG Did in the Match
Lionel Messi opened the scoring, and minutes later, their second goal came as Jaouen Hadjam bundled the ball into his net.
But they never looked secure in their advantage. Ludovic Blas got the first for Nantes, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma at his near post off a sliced cross. The equalizer from Nantes followed shortly after, Ignatius Ganago deflecting the ball in from a corner.
PSG reclaimed the lead in the second half through a Danilo Pereira header. Mbappe added a second in stoppage time, an emphatic finish from close range to break the PSG all-time goalscoring record and secure three important points.
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ goals in 🔴&🔵@KMbappe overtakes Edinson Cavani as the top goalscorer in Paris Saint-Germain history ⚽️😍
❤️ #𝐊EEP𝐌AKINGHIS𝟕ORY 💙 pic.twitter.com/Bj4GhqoL5Y
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 4, 2023
Mbappe’s Response to Victory
The historic moment was celebrated with a ceremony at the Parc des Princes, where a portrait of Mbappe was displayed. In addition, PSG honored him with fireworks and a trophy ceremony on the field.
The Frenchman expressed his gratitude and honor for the achievement, saying, “It’s very special to be here. The last time I was here was to announce I was staying [to extend his contract], it’s an honor to be here as the club’s top scorer.”
In another interview, Mbappe expressed his thoughts on his historic achievement, stating, “My goal has always been to make history in France, in the capital of my country, in my city, and today I feel like I am doing just that. It’s a magnificent feeling, but there is still much more to be accomplished.”
As a Parisian born and bred, Mbappe shared how much this moment meant, saying, “This is extra special for me. If someone had told me that I would score the goal that would break the record while wearing the captain’s armband, I would have thought it was impossible.”
Mbappe’s Journey with PSG
Mbappe’s rise to the top of PSG’s scoring charts was achieved in lesser games than Cavani. While the Uruguayan took 301 games to score his 200 goals, Mbappe accomplished the feat in just 247 matches.
The Paris native made headlines in 2017 when he joined PSG from Monaco for a world-record transfer fee of €180 million for a teenager.
His time at the Parc des Princes hasn’t been without controversy, with a prolonged transfer saga involving Real Madrid straining relations with fans. However, Mbappe signed a three-year contract extension with the club in May 2021, putting the rumors to rest.
Mbappe’s contributions to France’s national team have also been remarkable.
He led Les Bleus to World Cup victory in 2018 and took home the Golden Boot in December 2022 after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a historic hat-trick in the final. With 12 total World Cup goals, Mbappe is just four behind record holder Miroslav Klose of Germany.
