Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has defended Kylian Mbappe, stating his departure to Real Madrid did not factor into PSG's 2024-25 Champions League victory. In an interview with MARCA, Verratti reflected on why the superstar trio of Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar failed to win Europe's top club prize during their time together at PSG. He emphasized team balance over individual stars as key to the club's recent success.
Paris Saint-Germain achieved a historic milestone in the 2024-25 season by winning their first Champions League title, defeating Inter 5-0 in the final. This triumph capped a domestic treble that included Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions. Under manager Luis Enrique, PSG overcame early struggles following Mbappe's 2024 departure to Real Madrid, adopting a balanced squad strategy focused on youth, academy players, and experienced figures across departments.
The shift marked a departure from PSG's previous approach of assembling superstars. From 2021 to 2023, the team featured Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi up front, but defensive vulnerabilities allowed opponents to exploit their press. Messi and Neymar left in 2023, followed by Mbappe in 2024. Despite reaching the Champions League semi-finals and final with Mbappe, PSG did not secure the trophy then.
In his MARCA interview, Verratti dismissed suggestions that PSG's success stemmed from Mbappe's exit. "It's unfair to see it that way," he said. "With Kylian, we reached the semi-finals and the final, but we didn't win it. Anyway, I don't think PSG won it because Kylian left. Mbappe has helped the club grow a lot. The year he left, he scored nearly 50 goals, for example."
Verratti explained the trio's continental shortcomings: "That's what makes football beautiful. It's not just about buying players and winning. That PSG team was a serious project, and they helped the club grow. Individually, we had many star players, but we lacked something as a team. And that matters a lot in today's football. In big games, star players can make the difference, but not generally."
PSG's collective achievements boosted individuals, with Ousmane Dembele winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or after 33 goals in 49 games. Meanwhile, Mbappe has thrived at Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals in 59 games during his debut 2024-25 season—a disappointing campaign for the club with no major silverware. In 2025-26, he has 16 goals in 13 games, including strikes against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, and won the Pichichi and Golden Boot. Verratti praised him as "the best player in the world right now," noting, "He had to adapt, but he scored a lot of goals... There's no one else like him in the world right now."
Mbappe has expressed his drive at Real Madrid: "winning everything there is to win."