Mbappé left it late to get on the scoresheet in PSG’s 4-2 win over FC Nantes on Saturday, controlling Timothée Pembélé’s low cross and turning to fire low beyond Alban Lafont in the 92nd minute.
Lionel Messi and Danilo Pereira also scored either side of former PSG academy player Jaouen Hadjam’s own goal, but all the post-match headlines belonged to Mbappé, who overtook Edinson Cavani as Paris’ record goalscorer on 201 goals – in 54 fewer games than the Uruguayan.
Record man, and what a man
On a week in which French football paid tribute to France’s 1958 FIFA World Cup 13-goal top scorer Just Fontaine, who passed away aged 89, Mbappé then swapped his record-breaking jersey with Nantes striker Ignatius Ganago, who tragically lost his five-year-old daughter to illness recently.
“I play to make history and I’ve always said I wanted to make history in France, in the capital of my country, in my city, and I’m doing that,” Mbappé, who finished the game as captain after Marquinhos had made way for El Chadaille Bitshiabu, told Canal+.
“It’s magnificent, but there is still a lot to be done. For me, as a native Parisian, this is special. If someone had said to me I’d score the goal to beat the record while wearing the captain’s armband, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Marseille in touch
Olympique de Marseille remain PSG’s closest pursuers, eight points behind the champions and league leaders following their 1-0 win at Stade Rennais FC in Sunday’s late kick-off.
Former Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac got the only goal of the game and his third of the season as OM bounced back from their bitterly disappointing Coupe de France loss to second-tier FC Annecy on Wednesday.
“Playing for OM is always special, with special pressure,” said head coach Igor Tudor after the game. “After our Cup match, winning here has added value. When a shock happens you either stop and cry or you react. Tonight, I’m very proud of the players. Coming here and winning isn’t easy for anyone.”
Derby du Nord spoils shared
It was honours even in the Derby du Nord in Saturday’s earlier kick-off, with RC Lens and LOSC playing out a 1-1 draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Lens took a first-half lead through a Jose Fonte own-goal but Lille replied through Jonathan David, who struck his 16th goal of the season, in the second half.
“We had the volume and were pushed on by the fans,” said assistant manager Jorge Maciel, who took charge of les Dogues in the absence of suspended head coach Paulo Fonseca.
“We created a dynamic together, the players were comfortable despite the absence of the coach. But in the end we didn’t earn three points. What side of yourself do you want to show? Fans, derby or not, a game of football is a game of football.”
Montpellier goal-fest
Elsewhere, Montpellier Hérault SC thrashed bottom club Angers SCO 5-0 at the Stade de la Mosson in Sunday’s highest-scoring game.
La Paillade captain Téji Savanier celebrated his return from suspension with two goals, the first from the penalty spot. Wahbi Khazri, Faitout Maouassa and Elye Wahi also scored, with only Wahi’s goal coming after Angers had gone down to 10 men with Nabil Bentaleb’s sending off.
Ben Yedder Blues
Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice but it wasn’t enough to give AS Monaco all three points against relegation-threatened ESTAC Troyes in Sunday’s early game at the Stade de l’Aube.
Rominigue Kouamé had opened the scoring for the hosts before Ben Yedder’s brace, while Chelsea academy graduate Iké Ugbo snatched a share of the spoils in injury-time. Monaco remain third despite the disappointment.
Other business
OGC Nice are four points away from the European places after their 1-1 draw with AJ Auxerre. Gaëtan Laborde missed a penalty but made amends with a flying header to cancel out Gauthier Hein’s opener.
Stade de Reims remain undefeated in Ligue 1 Uber Eats under Will Still after Jens Cajuste fired them to an injury-time 1-0 win over AC Ajaccio in Champagne country.
FC Lorient are alongside Reims on 40 points, with one more than Olympique Lyonnais, whom they held to a goalless draw on Sunday despite Rayan Cherki’s best efforts.
Stade Brestois 29 took the spoils in what was a relegation six-pointer at RC Strasbourg Alsace, meanwhile. Franck Honorat’s strike on the stroke of half-time was enough to separate the sides.
Clermont Foot 63 leapfrogged Toulouse FC in mid-table with Saîf-Eddine Khaoui getting the only goal of their game at the Stadium de Toulouse.