Who would have thought at the start of the season that Mbappe’s departure from Paris Saint-Germain would be a positive development for the club? Judging by this season, it appears Luis Enrique’s team has performed even better without its star player.

The French forward signed a contract with Real Madrid this summer, and everything suggested that they would form an unstoppable attacking lineup with Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, and Rodrygo. However, the reality has been quite different: Real Madrid was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, while PSG is just two games away from reaching the final at Allianz Arena.

Real Madrid’s elimination in the quarterfinals against Arsenal was one of the biggest shocks of this Champions League season. Moreover, Mbappe performed far below expectations in that clash and was ultimately whistled at the Santiago Bernabeu—an outcome that seemed unimaginable a few months ago. The striker, expected to leave his mark on Europe’s biggest nights with Real Madrid, has yet to deliver the decisive impact anticipated in these competitions.

On the other hand, PSG has made significant footballing progress, becoming a more cohesive and balanced team compared to recent years. Players like Ousmane Dembele, who is performing at his peak and on the path to winning the Ballon d’Or, have elevated the team’s quality.

The emergence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Doku, who have added bravery, creativity, and quality near the opponent’s goal, has also been crucial. In midfield, Vitinha has emerged as the heartbeat of the team, combining defensive work with attacking penetration.

Under Enrique, PSG is a fast, entertaining, and attacking team capable of both dominating possession and delivering deadly counterattacks. If they can defeat Arsenal in the semifinals, they will reach their second Champions League final in history—a milestone that would confirm the strength of their new project.

Despite being one of PSG’s most important players over the past decade, Mbappe never managed to lead the team to European glory. First alongside Neymar after joining in 2017 and then as the project’s main star, the French forward only reached the Champions League semifinals three times:

In 2020, when PSG lost the final to Bayern Munich in the pandemic season; in 2021, when they were defeated by Guardiola’s team in the semifinals; and last season, when they were surprisingly eliminated by Borussia Dortmund at the same stage.

The Champions League has always been Paris Saint-Germain and Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s ultimate dream since Qatar’s acquisition of the club in 2011. Fourteen years of ambition, hundreds of millions in investments, and European disappointments in the relentless pursuit of lifting the first European trophy.

Ironically, this glory may come in the very first season without Kylian Mbappe, the figure who was supposed to lead this project since 2017. An unexpected twist of fate that confirms, for now, Al-Khelaifi has won this silent battle between the club and its star.