On Saturday, April 15th, 2023 the young talent in Kylian Mbappé as well as the old legend in Lionel Messi both scored a goal each as the French League leading Paris Saint – Germain benefitted from a red card in order to defeat the 2nd – place in the French League, Lens, with a final tally of 3 to 1. Paris Saint – Germain now will move to 9 – points in front of their rival in France.
Kylian Mbappe
It was an extremely special goal score for Kylian. Earlier this season Mbappe became Paris Saint – Germain’s all – time leading goal scorer when he managed to surpass Edinson Cavani’s 200 – goal mark.
Kylian’s dominant strike on Saturday vs. Lens made the only 24 – year – old French striker as the overall all – time top goal scorer for Paris Saint – Germain in the French Leaguewith 139 – total goals. Cavani netted a total of 138 – goals. Overall, Mbappé now counts 203 – goal strikes for Paris Saint – Germain.
Marseille now can move above Lens with a home win of their own versus the struggling Troyes on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 with just 7 – games remaining following the matches over this weekend’s round.
Lens seemed to be in complete control of the contest up until the midfielder in Salis Abdul Samed was ejected for a reckless challenge on the right back, Achraf Hakimi, during the 19th – minute of match play.
Kylian Mbappé just as happened to score his league – leading 20th – goal score when he accepted a nice pass from his midfielder, Vitinha, and Kylian turned very fast prior to slamming his 1st – time shot that slapped into the bottom right corner of the net during the 31st – minute of game time. Vitinha managed to double the lead for PSG just 6 – minutes after that with a 25 – meter smash into the same corner of the opposing goal.
Lionel Messi
Lionel then struck during the 40th – minute with his buddy from France, Mbappé, who back – heeled the football to the Argentine – native for a low strike finding the back of the net. That was Messi’s 15th – league goal score.
Lens so seemed to perform better than Paris Saint – Germain did during the 2nd – half of this match, even though they were playing with a man down. A hand – ball from Paris Saint – Germain’s midfielder, Fabian Ruiz, after a corner – kick gave Lens a penalty – shot, and the Polish winger, Przemysław Frankowski, sent goal – keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, to the wrong side during the 60th – minute of game play.
Lens’ 15 – goal top scorer in Loïs Openda put up a shot that was saved during the 64th – minute, and then he forced a corner – kick as the visitors kept up the intense pressure on Paris Saint – Germain.
Paris Saint – Germain’s Head Coach
The Paris Saint – Germain head coach, Christophe Galtier, has recently been under extreme pressure following his 8 – losses this season across all of the competitions. This week he passionately disagreed with all of the allegations that he had made racist as well as anti – Muslim remarks while Galtier was in charge of Nice during the previous European football season.
The Parc des Princes fans became quite quite when Lens controlled the action early on, with Samed’s header neatly saved by Donnarumma in just the first 2 – minutes of the game.
Paris Saint – Germain’s defender in Danilo almost managed to score on an ever so embarrassing own – goal when his winding back – pass from somewhere near half – way downfield surprised Donnarumma during the 10th – minute of match play, but it luckily bounced just wide of the net.
The game seemed to turn in favor of Paris Saint Germain’s when the midfielder, Samed, lunged at Hakimi as he caught his left ankle in a very dangerous slide – tackle.
Other Match Play last Saturday, April 15th, 2023
Also on Saturday, April 15th, 2023 Rennes defeated Reims with a final tally of 3 to nil in order to move just 1 – point in front of Lille and into 5th – place. The Belgium winger, Jérémy Doku, scored 2 – times for Rennes during the first 20 – minutes of that game. The defender in Arthur Theate made scored another goal to make it 3 to nil during the 69th – minute of that contest.
Kylian Mbappe’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
Monaco
- Ligue 1: 2016 – 2017
- Coupe de la Ligue Runner – Up: 2016 – 2017
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
- Coupe de France: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021; Runner – Up: 2018 – 2019
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020
- Trophée des Champions: 2019, 2020
- UEFA Champions League Runner – Up: 2019 – 2020
France U19
- UEFA European Under – 19 Championship: 2016
France
- FIFA World Cup: 2018; Runner – Up: 2022
- UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021
Individual
- UEFA European Under – 19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: April 2017, March 2018, August 2018, February 2019, February 2021, August 2021, February 2022, November / December 2022, February 2023
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2018, 2019, 2022
- Golden Boy: 2017
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 2022
- FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2022
- FIFA World Cup Young Player Award: 2018
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018
- Kopa Trophy: 2018
- IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2018, 2021, 2022
- IFFHS World’s Best Top Goal Scorer: 2022
- French Player of the Year: 2018, 2019, 2022
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2018
- Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- Ligue 1 top assist provider: 2021 – 2022
- Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2021
- Onze de Bronze: 2019
- UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot: 2021
Orders
- Knight of the Legion of Honor: 2018
Lionel Messi’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
- Copa del Rey: 2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2020 – 2021
- Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
- UEFA Champions League: 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2010 – 2011, 2014 – 2015
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
Paris Saint – Germain
- Ligue 1: 2021 – 2022
- Trophée des Champions: 2022
Argentina U – 20
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005
Argentina U – 23
- Summer Olympics: 2008
Argentina
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
- Copa América: 2021
- CONMEBOL – UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Individual
- Ballon d’Or / FIFA Ballon d’Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019, 2022
- European Golden Shoe: 2009 – 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 18, 2018 – 2019
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
- FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
- Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
- Copa América Top Goalscorer: 2021
- La Liga Best Player: 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015
- Pichichi Trophy: 2009 − 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 − 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 − 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020
- Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Sources:
The Associated Press News Services. “Mbappé sets league goals record for PSG in 3 – 1 win vs Lens”. The Associated Press. Saturday, April 15, 2023.
Football Reference News Services. “Kylian Mbappe”. Football Reference. Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Football Reference News Services. “Lionel Messi”. Football Reference. Sunday, April 16, 2023.