Mbappe and the Champions League curse: Paris rules Europe after his departure

For years, the European project of Paris Saint-Germain was inextricably linked to the name Kylian Mbappe. Since joining the club in 2017, the French striker became the most prominent face of the Parisian dream in the UEFA Champions League, while the club’s management spent billions in an effort to finally win the trophy that had eluded them.

During that period, rumors constantly linked Mbappe with Real Madrid, a club historically synonymous with the continental competition. While Paris sought to retain its star to complete its European ambitions, the player continued to view a transfer to the Spanish capital as the quickest route to achieving his ultimate dream: winning the Champions League.

Real Madrid collects trophies

Before Mbappe’s arrival, Real Madrid continued to assert its European dominance, successfully winning the Champions League in both the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 seasons, reaffirming its status as the competition’s primary benchmark.

In the summer of 2024, the anticipated transfer finally materialized, with Mbappe joining Real Madrid amid expectations that he would be a decisive addition to a team accustomed to standing on the European podium. The scenario seemed clear at the time: the player left Paris in pursuit of the trophy, and Real Madrid had all the ingredients to continue its continental domination. However, football was concealing a completely different script.

Paris dominates europe after Mbappe’s departure

After Mbappe exited the scene, Paris Saint-Germain successfully broke the historical curse that had plagued them for years, triumphing in the Champions League final in the 2024–2025 season. They then repeated the feat in the 2025–2026 season, securing two consecutive titles that the club and its fans had long awaited.

Conversely, Real Madrid found themselves far from the podiums during the two seasons following the French star’s arrival, finishing both of those last two seasons without any silverware—a paradox that is difficult to ignore.

From the Bernabeu dream to fan pressure

Kylian Mbappe’s struggles in his final season with Real Madrid were not limited to results; they extended to his relationship with a segment of the fanbase that began to hold him partially responsible for the team’s decline and two consecutive trophy-less seasons.

As criticism escalated, an online campaign titled “Mbappe Out” spread, demanding the French star’s departure from the club. It achieved widespread traction on social media, garnering nearly 30 million signatures according to international media reports.

Thus, the player found himself in a position he never expected upon moving to the Santiago Bernabéu. Instead of leading the new project toward European glory, he became a target for criticism and campaigns demanding his exit, all while Paris Saint-Germain was writing the most successful chapters of its continental history after his departure.

Featured image via Lars Baron/Getty Images