‘I play to write history’ – Kylian Mbappe reflects on breaking Paris Saint-Germain record and overtakes Edinson Cavani

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 05/03/2023 at 09:57 GMT

Kylian Mbappe continued his electric form this season by scoring in stoppage time to round off Paris Saint Germain's 4-2 win over Nantes at the Parc des Princes. The goal moved Mbappe one ahead of Edinson Cavani's total of 200 goals for the club and was presented with a special trophy to commemorate his achievement after the match. PSG now turn their attention to the Champions League on Wednesday.

'There's still hope for PSG' - Mbappe optimistic despite defeat to Bayern

Kylian Mbappe says his aim is ‘to write history’ after scoring his 201st Paris Saint-Germain goal to become the club’s record top scorer.

Mbappe scored in stoppage time as PSG overcame Nantes 4-2 at the Parc des Princes to surpass Edinson Cavani’s tally of 200 in all competitions.

Lionel Messi, Danilo Pereira and a Jaouen Hadjam own-goal were enough to move Christophe Galtier’s side 11 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Ligue 1

Best of 2023: PSG's Marquinhos hoists Ligue 1 trophy aloft amid celebrations

00:01:21

26/12/2023 at 07:51

Speaking to Canal+ after the game, he said: "I play to write history. I've always said that I wanted to write history in France, in the capital, in my country, in my city.

"I'm doing it, it's beautiful, but there's still a long way to go. It's a personal accomplishment, but I also came for collective accomplishments."

The 24-year-old has been in scintillating form so far this season after scoring 30 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for PSG.

He took only 247 appearances to reach his tally of 201 goals, while Cavani scored 200 times in 300 outings for the Parisians.

PSG are back in action on Wednesday when they bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Mbappe remains confident that the French champions can recover from that first-leg defeat and progress to the quarter-finals.

Speaking after the game, he said: "Of course, there is still hope, it's only the first leg over two games.

"We'll work, get everyone back and try to start winning again so that we can go there and try to qualify."

His importance to PSG is clear, after the 2018 World Cup winner admits he ‘shouldn’t have come back’ in that first leg after rushing his comeback from a thigh injury.

Galtier convinced PSG can still make it through despite 1-0 home defeat to Bayern

After the first leg defeat, Mbappe said: "I’m not 100% but I felt good enough to try to help my friends and play a little bit. Basically, I shouldn’t have come back.

"I tried everything, tried to put everything on my side so as not to have any regrets. I would have liked to play this game [in full].

"These are matches that we want to play, for which we work. Watching from the sidelines is very difficult. Today, I only had 30 minutes to give. I gave everything. I will try to recover to be as efficient as possible."

Following Wednesday’s second leg in Bavaria, Galtier’s side turn their attention back to Ligue 1 with a match away at struggling Brest on March 11.

Ligue 1