This year 2021 has brought every moment for PSG world star Kylian Mbappe a delight. The highs (the super highs even), some low moments as well, lots of goals (as usual), and even a failed move to La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer. However, overall, it was another 12 months in which the 23-year-old forward proved why he is regarded as one of the best footballers in the world.
Mbappe has learnt so much from every single moment of this past year despite the difficult moments.
His penalty miss against Switzerland in the last 16 round of the European Championships for his country, which gifted the Swiss a shock win, will likely stay with him forever – but it has made him stronger.
Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty for France against Switzerland in round 16 of Euro 2020. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
PSG not letting the youngster join Real Madrid in August was another challenge, but he was also happy staying in Paris and playing alongside Neymar and new signing Lionel Messi who joined the Parisians from Barcelona as a free agent.
Failing to win the Ligue 1 title with PSG, after lifting the trophy in four consecutive seasons (2017 with Monaco and 2018, 2019 and 2020 with PSG) was a letdown. And he will also not forget the injury that cost him his place in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City where PSG, without their number seven, was knocked out in the snow, though Man City ended up losing the finals to Chelsea and former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel.
2021 has, most importantly, been a year in which Mbappé has matured.
Overcoming hardship is almost something new to him. Before this year, everything had pretty much always gone his way: the goals, the titles, the accolades, the fame. This year was different – lacking titles, and the praise from the press he’s accustomed to – but he became a better player, and a better person, for it. Always growing and improving. This year, in fact, he endured hate from the very same people he enjoyed their love.
Kylian Mbappe in a past match for PSG this season. | PHOTO: Guardian |
He most definitely did not expect to get knocked out of Euro 2020, let alone by a nation like Switzerland and lose the Ligure 1 title to a club like Lille which shocked the whole football community across the world.
Remarkably for the France international, lots of his goals have come in braces. In 2021, he netted a brace against Montpellier (twice even), Dijon, Brest, Lille, Lyon, Bayern Munich, St Etienne, Metz, Reims, Club Brugge and Monaco. That’s 12 braces in a single calendar year – which is just extraordinary.
His ninth-place finish in the Ballon d’Or race seemed quite low, but it didn’t upset him. Instead, it will give him even more motivation to become even better in 2022.
At only 23, he has fully established himself among the top 10 best players in the world. And next year should be even better for Mbappé, with a potentially very successful second half of the season with PSG, the World Cup with France in Qatar, and possibly a big move to Real Madrid too.
This season, their Ligue 1 campaign seems like a routine triumph for PSG although the Champions League journey may not be that soft. They finished the group stage second to Manchester City and will face a tough round of 16 fixture against the club he might be joining next summer, Real Madrid.
Truth be told Mbappe and his teammates have all it takes to oust Madrid out of the competition despite the fact the Spanish side has enjoyed a good tun of form in recent matches.
Mbappe will most definitely wait for this tie in February to prove why R6eal Madrid have always been so much interested in his signature.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login