Mbappe in the semi-finals from reaching the Olympus of the Champions League

Kylian Mbappe, at 25 years old, is one step away from making history and entering the Champions League Olympus. After he equaled Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 48 goals thanks to his brace against Barcelona in the second leg (1-4) of the quarter-finals, The French star is just one goal away from becoming one of the tournament’s top ten scorers. He will begin his search today in the round-trip semi-final against Borussia Dortmund, one of his favorite victims (four goals in six games), against whom he scored his first double in the Champions League. This was during the 2016/17 season, when he was barely 18 years old and still playing for Monaco.

Record holder

Ever since Mbappe made his first appearance in the Champions League, he has had the word “record” written on his forehead. That same season, in the round of 16, he introduced himself to the world with a goal at the Etihad against Manchester City (5-3), which made him the team’s best player. The youngest French player to score a goal in a Champions League match. He didn’t have to wait long to spray the next one, as In the first leg of the quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund (2–3), he became the first player in history to score a double in the playoffs. If what was shown against City was his letter of recommendation… it was his confirmation as world football’s next ‘superstar’.

Exactly, It was at Signal Iduna Park. A scenario that will return to this very thing night in the first leg of the semi-finals of the current edition of the Champions League. Since then, Mbappe has not tired of scoring goals in the Champions League. one by one until you reach 48 in 71 games. Along the way, in addition to the above-mentioned records, he became youngest European Cup player to score 10 goals, youngest to score in four matches in a row, youngest to score in a semi-final, youngest to score an away hat-trick…

The next goal he can achieve is to become the player who has needed the fewest games to score 60 goals in the Champions League. Leo Messi achieved this at 80 years old. Kylian is 12… but he’ll have to score them in nine games. This seems like a utopia. However, nothing is impossible for the French and especially for Europe.

One step away from the Champions League Olympus

Right now, Mbappe is tied with legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 48 goals in 142 games. Exactly twice as much as the Frenchman needs. The thing is, If he scores one more goal, he will surpass the Swede and enter the prestigious list of top 10 scorers in the tournament’s history., home to myths and legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo (140), Lionel Messi (129) or Robert Lewandowski (94). Big words.

Also in eighth position is his compatriot Thierry Henry., who scored 50 goals in 112 games. That’s why, If Kylian scores two goals on the same pitch where he scored his first Champions League double, he will become one of his great idols. and he will only be ahead of Karim Benzema (90 goals in 152 games) as the Frenchman with the most goals in the history of the tournament.

Moreover, it turns out rink in the elimination round away from home. Where you really need to demonstrate. And thanks to his double in the match against Barcelona, ​​Mbappe became the second player with the most Champions League goals (15) in such a scenario. The first is Cristiano Ronaldo with 23 goals in 39 games. Kilian, for his part, barely needed 12 alien figures.

A record season… including in the Champions League

Mbappe, without a doubt An exciting night ahead at Signal Iduna Park in which he will try to put PSG on the road to the Wembley final with his goals. But He still has one more record in his reach. However, this question is much more personal.

In the win over Lorient (1-4) last week Mbappe has scored 43 goals in all competitions. Your most fruitful course in the elite despite being substituted in five of the 44 games he has played to date. Moreover, in the other three he wasn’t even wearing shorts. In the Champions League, yes, he played absolutely everything. “I would like this story to end well for PSG and for Mbappe. We’re all in the same boat.”Luis Enrique said in early April.

I would like this story to end well for PSG and for Mbappe.

Luis Enrique, PSG coach

So, things are going on The goal that could have placed him as the 10th top scorer in Champions League history is the same goal that would have seen him enjoy his best scoring season in the Champions League. He is currently the competition’s top scorer with eight goals in 10 games, alongside Harry Kane. The same ones that were registered in 2020-21. The night is marked in red on the calendar for Kylian Mbappe, who will aim to enter the Champions League Olympus against Borussia Dortmund, one of his favorite victims, at the Signal Iduna Park, the stadium where he recorded his first great success in the tournament.