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In a semi-final that promises to be laced with emotion, drama, and tactical brilliance, Kylian Mbappe is set to face Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since his much-publicized departure last year. The stage is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in the United States, and the spotlight could not be brighter.
Mbappe, now wearing the iconic white of Real Madrid, meets his former team — the club that shaped him into a global superstar — for the first time since leaving amidst controversy, legal battles, and emotional farewells. It is a match that transcends sport; it is a reunion forged by destiny and drama, and one that could define the trajectory of both clubs this season.
A Return Full of Emotion
Mbappe’s history with PSG is both glorious and complicated. He spent seven seasons in Paris, scoring a staggering 256 goals in 308 appearances, making him the club’s all-time top scorer. Yet, for all his records and iconic moments at the Parc des Princes, his legacy took a hit in the final stages of his stay.
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Rather than renewing his contract or moving through a lucrative transfer, Mbappe chose to see out his deal and leave on a free transfer — a decision that irked the PSG hierarchy, especially their Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The tension escalated into a bitter legal battle, with Mbappe alleging unpaid wages and bonuses amounting to €55 million, and PSG accusing the forward of acting in bad faith.
In the summer of 2023, Mbappe was even sidelined, forced to train with players on the transfer list, and excluded from the club’s pre-season tour to Japan. The relationship had clearly broken down. Though he was later reintegrated under Luis Enrique, the damage was done.
Just last month, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a complaint of “moral harassment” by Mbappe regarding his treatment by PSG. However, this week, one of his lawyers confirmed that the complaint had been withdrawn — perhaps signalling a truce, or simply a desire to move forward.
Life at Real: A Dream Realized
For Mbappe, the move to Real Madrid was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. The French superstar had long admired Los Blancos, and many believed his career would eventually lead him to the Santiago Bernabéu. And once the move happened in the summer of 2024, he wasted no time making his mark.
Under the leadership of newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have enjoyed a rejuvenation. The team has blended youthful energy with experienced brilliance, and Mbappe has been at the heart of that transformation. In his debut season, he scored 43 goals in 56 appearances across competitions — a remarkable tally even by his lofty standards.
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Yet, his Club World Cup campaign hasn’t been smooth sailing. Sidelined by a stomach bug and hospitalized during the group stage, Mbappe was unavailable for most of the matches played on American soil. In his absence, young forward Gonzalo Garcia emerged as an unexpected hero, starting all five games and scoring four crucial goals.
But Mbappe reminded the world of his class in the quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund. Coming off the bench in the second half, he scored a stunning overhead kick in stoppage time — sealing a 3-2 win and proving his fitness in spectacular style.
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“He is still not perfect, not 100 percent, but he is getting better every day,” Alonso said after the match. “Now he will have three days to keep progressing and feeling better ahead of the semi-final.”
The Parisian Threat
On the other side of the pitch is a PSG side that finally seems to have exorcised their European demons. Ironically, it was the season after Mbappe left that the Parisians lifted their first UEFA Champions League title, routing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. That landmark victory silenced critics who once argued that PSG couldn’t win with Mbappe — a point of debate that adds further spice to this semi-final.
In the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, PSG outclassed Bayern Munich 2-0 in Atlanta despite having Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez sent off. The result underscored their new-found steel and unity, qualities often absent during their previous Champions League chases.
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Head coach Luis Enrique, a former Real Madrid player himself, understands the gravity of this clash. For him, it’s not just about reaching another final — it’s about proving that PSG can match Real Madrid, historically the most dominant force in club football.
“It doesn’t matter who we play in the semi-finals. All that matters is that we are there and that we want to get to the final,” Enrique remarked.
Tactical Battle: Alonso vs Enrique
While much of the attention is naturally on Mbappe and his reunion with PSG, the battle in the dugout is just as compelling. Xabi Alonso, after a brilliant stint with Bayer Leverkusen, is fast emerging as one of Europe’s most exciting tactical minds. At the Club World Cup, he’s shown an impressive ability to switch between back-four and back-three systems, adapting his style to the opposition.
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Enrique, meanwhile, has instilled discipline and tactical maturity in his PSG squad. The team now defends better, transitions quicker, and no longer relies on individual brilliance alone. The likes of Vitinha, Ousmane Dembélé, and Achraf Hakimi have stepped up, and 21-year-old striker Ilyes Housni has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the campaign.
Alonso’s decision to start or bench Mbappe could determine the match’s complexion. The Frenchman hasn’t started a single match in the tournament so far, but given the stakes — and the opponent — it’s hard to see him watching from the bench.
If Mbappe does start, he’ll be facing PSG for the first time since July 2017, when he played against them as a teenage sensation at AS Monaco. That memory feels like a lifetime ago.
What’s at Stake
For Real Madrid, reaching the final would further cement their return to the pinnacle under Alonso. For PSG, victory would carry both emotional and symbolic significance. Beating Real Madrid — with Mbappe on the other side — would be the ultimate vindication of their post-Mbappe project.
And for Mbappe, this match could be the defining moment of his career so far. Facing his past, leading his future — all under the global spotlight of a semi-final in the United States.
Whether this reunion ends in heartbreak, redemption, or triumph remains to be seen. But what’s certain is that the world will be watching.
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