Mbappe Faces PSG in Club World Cup Semifinal Reunion

Kylian Mbappe is set to face his former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the first time since his controversial transfer to Real Madrid a year ago in the Club World Cup semifinal. Mbappe, who spent seven successful seasons at PSG and became their all-time top scorer with 256 goals, left amid tensions as he ran down his contract to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, leading to ongoing legal disputes over unpaid wages and claims of mistreatment by PSG. Despite this fraught history, Mbappe has had a strong first season at Real Madrid, scoring 43 goals in 56 matches across all competitions. His former PSG teammates Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes have expressed mixed feelings about the reunion, acknowledging their friendship with Mbappe but emphasizing their commitment to their current club. Mbappe missed the early stages of the Club World Cup due to illness but is expected to start in the semifinal against PSG, a match that carries significant emotional and competitive weight for all involved. Both teams are vying for a spot in the final, with PSG coming off a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid remaining undefeated in the tournament.