On Sunday evening at Pars des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Kylian Mbappé aged 20 years, two months and three days became the youngest player to reach the 50-goal Ligue 1 milestone breaking a 37-year-old record. This record was previously held by previously held by Yannick Stopyra – the former French international who broke into Sochaux first team at age 17 and accomplished the previous record at 21 years, 11 months and nine days in 1982.
Several players have scored 50 or more Ligue 1 goals but none have done so as fast as the Monaco academy graduate Mbappé, who hit the half-century mark just his 88th appearance in France’s top flight. Mbappé has shoulder the responsibilities of his team attack in the absence of his strike partners – Edinson Cavani and Neymar. With 22 league goals in 20 league appearances, “Everything that Mbappé does, it’s dangerous, it makes a difference,” said Nimes boss Bernard Blaquart after Sunday defeat.
Mbappé, 20, has now been directly involved in 130 first-team goals for club & country since making his professional debut as a 16-year-old for AS Monaco in December 2015. The explosive forward is having his best goal scoring season and probably as his sight set on more achievements. Mbappe told reporters after the Nimes game: “I work every day to help my team as much as possible. I want to enjoy my football because it is great fun. Scoring goals and breaking records is what drives me.”
PSG shelled €180 million in bringing him to the French capital, making him the most expensive teenager, and the world’s second-most expensive player and the World Cup winner looks to have started repaying dividends. His current boss Thomas Tuchel was with Kylian’s performance. “We could have won by more. Kylian could have scored five goals! It was a great win. The team got stronger and stronger as the game wore on,” he said.
The Parc des Princes faithful have a real gem in this French attacker. He became France’s youngest goalscorer at a major tournament when he scored against Peru at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele in 1958, with France defeating Croatia 4-2 to lift the trophy for a second time.
There is no limit for Mbappé; “I always assume that one day someone will come and try to do better so you always have to go beyond your limits. The 51st? Yes, I wanted it but I also wanted the 52nd to have the ball.”
Paris Saint-Germain host Dijon Football Côte d’Or in Coupe de France at Parc des Princes. Mbappé would be expected to lead the line and don’t rule him out, he might just be going home with the match ball. Predict and win big by visiting our Sports shop Babaijebu.ng for our mouthwatering offer for this game.