Luis Enrique makes Mbappe announcement as PSG star equals Henry record
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 20 Sept 2023 08:03 BST
- 3 min read
Kylian Mbappe was on target as PSG defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday and was the recipient of praise from head coach Luis Enrique in the aftermath of the game.
Mbappe opened the scoring early in the second half after winning a fortuitous penalty, dispatching the resultant kick into the corner of the net.
MORE: Romano reveals the TRUTH behind Mbappe to Real Madrid and what’s next for PSG star
Achraf Hakimi soon added to this effort as PSG eased to an opening-night success that could have been even greater had the striker taken advantage of several chances in the latter stages of the encounter.
Mbappe’s strike was his 35th with PSG – the same number that Thierry Henry mustered with Arsenal but still well distant of the 78 that Karim Benzema achieved with Real Madrid.
MORE: Mbappe to Real Madrid? Thierry Henry addresses transfer rumours
’Mbappe the best in the world’
After the Dortmund victory, a delighted Luis Enrique sang the praises of his forward.
“Kylian for me is the best player in the world. But more than his technical qualities, what struck me is his human quality,” Luis Enrique told the media after the game. “It’s a pleasure to have him in the locker room, he’s a leader who always has a smile.”
Mbappe’s long-term future continues to hang in the balance as he is out of contract at the end of the season, at which point he will become a free agent.
The 24-year-old continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid and had a spectacular falling out with PSG in the summer over his refusal to take up a one-year option on his current contract that would have ended the prospect of him leaving for nothing next summer.
Consequently, he was frozen out of the club’s preseason tour and even their opening Ligue 1 match, but the tension has thawed in recent weeks.
The player's future, though, remains in the balance, with transfer rumours surrounding the player on a daily basis as PSG seek to retain the services of their superstar and Real Madrid attempt to prise him away.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in five matches since returning to the PSG first team.
