Kylian Mbappe’s last appearance in the Champions League as a Paris St-Germain player did not go as he had envisioned. Instead of lifting the trophy at Wembley, his final moment in the competition was marked by a slip as he futilely chased a through ball that was out of his reach.
By that point, the game was already beyond the grasp of the Parisians, with Borussia Dortmund securing a 2-0 aggregate victory through a solid defensive performance and a stroke of luck.
This slip in the dying seconds of injury time serves as the concluding chapter in one of the most disappointing periods in modern European football – PSG’s star-studded yet unsuccessful pursuit of the Champions League.
When Qatar Sports Investment acquired PSG in 2011, their primary objective shifted towards winning the most prestigious prize in Europe, leading to a surge in lavish expenditures.
This ambition reached new heights in 2017 with the historic purchase of Neymar from Barcelona, followed by the addition of Mbappe a year later after his triumph in the World Cup with France.
The anticipation peaked in 2021 when the signing of Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time, on a free transfer seemed to bring the dream of claiming the first Champions League title closer to reality with a star-studded attacking trio.
However, this dream was shattered as none of the three superstars will remain in Paris next season, dispersing to Miami, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Madrid, leaving the Parc des Princes trophyless in the Champions League.
Despite dominating domestically since 2017, winning six out of seven Ligue 1 titles, three Coupes de France with a potential fourth in the upcoming season against Lyon, and securing the final French League Cup, PSG has yet to conquer the Champions League.
Their European success has been limited, with only three appearances beyond the last 16 since 2017, including a final in 2020, a semi-final in the following season, and the current campaign.