In a gripping Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, the intensity wasn’t limited to just the action on the pitch.
Away from the Emirates Stadium spotlight, Kylian Mbappé—former PSG talisman and current outsider due to his looming departure—drew attention with his emotional engagement online.
Despite the strained ties and legal conflicts with the PSG board, Mbappé reminded the football world that his affection for certain individuals within the club endures.
His heartfelt reactions during the match, particularly on social media, underlined this sentiment.
As PSG claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Arsenal, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé’s clinical finish in the first half, Mbappé was busy online, liking posts and adding heart emojis under photos featuring close friends Achraf Hakimi and Dembélé.
This quiet display of support resonated deeply with fans, signaling that while his professional ties with PSG may be fading, his personal connections remain strong.
The bond Mbappé shares with Hakimi and Dembélé goes beyond the professional realm.
Their friendship, rooted in shared experiences both at PSG and with the French national team, has been a constant amid the upheaval surrounding his expected move to Real Madrid.
His online activity, though subtle, spoke volumes and, for many, overshadowed even the on-field drama.
Where some players might have chosen silence, Mbappé let his social media interactions do the talking, perhaps as a way to uplift the spirits of his friends while maintaining a dignified distance from the club itself.
His admiration for Dembélé was especially evident during this match.
The pair’s camaraderie extends back to their days as French internationals and former PSG teammates.
Dembélé’s performance on such a big stage likely struck a chord with Mbappé, who has experienced the weight of Champions League pressure himself.
Likewise, his support for Hakimi, who often refers to Mbappé as a “brother,” showed the lasting depth of their relationship.
Interestingly, Mbappé refrained from posting directly about the match, opting instead for understated gestures.
This led many fans to interpret his behavior in different ways—was it a peaceful nod to the players he holds dear or a silent message to the club hierarchy with whom he has clashed?
Just weeks prior, Mbappé admitted in an interview that he still watches PSG games and continues to wish them well.
His actions during the Arsenal tie seemed to affirm that claim, proving his words were more than just a public relations statement.
Legendary Brazilian Ronaldinho also offered support to PSG before the match, and Mbappé’s actions seemed to echo that same sense of encouragement.
For PSG fans, his quiet nod of approval was a morale boost.
Despite the controversy around his exit, Mbappé’s dignity and loyalty to his former teammates have shown through.
As the return leg at Parc des Princes looms, Arsenal will have to contend not just with a confident PSG squad, but with the emotional energy that comes from being supported by one of their greatest-ever stars.
While Kylian Mbappé may be nearing the end of his PSG chapter, his heartfelt tribute during this semi-final proves that the emotional ties he shares with his former teammates are still very much alive.
