Thierry Henry says Kylian Mbappe is Paris Saint-Germain’s greatest ever player and that he should leave the club with his “head held high”.
♦ PSG knocked out of Champions League
♦ Mbappe set for summer transfer exit
♦ Henry insists UCL failure shouldn’t tarnish his legacy
WHAT HAPPENED?
PSG lost 2-0 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, ending Mbappe’s hopes of winning the competition with the French giants. The 25-year-old looks set to join Real Madrid this summer and despite failing to win the Champions League during his six years at the French club, Arsenal legend Henry believes he is PSG’s best player ever and insists his positive legacy is intact.
WHAT THIERRY HENRY SAID
Henry said on CBS Sports: “Kylian Mbappe, we all know he is leaving. He was magnificent for PSG. You [Mbappe] can leave this club with your head held really high. It’s not everyone that can win everywhere, especially the Champions League. But the big man played really well all his career for PSG so I am not going to judge him personally on not winning the Champions League.”
When asked if he considers Mbappe to be PSG’s greatest ever player, Henry added: “It’s not even a discussion. The impact he had all over the world, what he has been doing; for me, yes. He will go down as the best player for PSG.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Mbappe has won more than a dozen domestic trophies since signing for PSG in 2018 but his side fell short every time in their bid to win the Champions League. If the French World Cup winner does depart Parc des Princes this summer as expected, he will have scored 255 goals in 306 games and helped the team to unprecedented success. And according to Henry, those feats will not be forgotten.
WHAT NEXT?
After helping PSG win yet another Ligue 1 title this season, Mbappe’s side can also win the French Cup when they take on Lyon on May 25. Before then, however, they host Toulouse on Sunday night.