With PSG in Champions League final, is Real Madrid's Mbappe wondering 'what if'?

Kylian Mbappe's dream move to Real Madrid backfires as PSG reach the Champions League final without him, setting up a showdown with Inter Milan.

Kylian Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last summer for a dream move to Real Madrid, seeking a fresh challenge and a long-coveted Champions League title. Almost a year later, the French superstar finds himself watching his former club reach Europe's biggest stage — without him. As PSG prepare to face Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final in Munich, Mbappe’s Madrid project is left in limbo, with the Spanish giants already out of the tournament following a humbling exit to Arsenal.

Mbappe's Big Switch: From PSG to Real Madrid

Mbappe’s free transfer to Real Madrid was meant to usher in a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu. After years of pursuit by Florentino Perez, Los Blancos finally landed their man — arguably one of the best player in the world. But expectations have met with reality, and that reality has been more complicated than many imagined.

Despite Mbappé's individual brilliance — with 24 LaLiga goals and 7 Champions League goals — Real Madrid's season has unraveled. Knocked out of the Champions League by Arsenal in the quarter-finals with an aggregate score of 5-1, suffered an El Clasico defeat in the Copa del Rey final, and trailing rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race, Madrid’s campaign teeters on disappointment. The dream start has turned into a cautious wait-and-watch.

Paris Flourishes Without Their Former Star

Back in Paris, Luis Enrique's rejuvenated PSG have surged forward. Their 3-1 aggregate win over Arsenal in the semi-finals has taken them to just their second Champions League final in club history. The departure of Mbappe — following exits of Lionel Messi and Neymar — was expected to trigger a decline. Instead, the opposite has happened.

PSG have found balance, hunger, and, above all, unity.

"The spirit has changed, we are much more of a team. We play for each other," goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma told Prime Video after Wednesday night's win. "The team is very united, we're doing well together. We (Italy) won a European Championship like this, it makes all the difference in every team. We miss Kylian, he is one of the best in the world and I wish him all the best because he is a great friend."

Inter Awaits: A Different Final, A Different PSG

PSG now face Inter Milan in the final — a team that stunned Barcelona in their own semi-final. For Mbappe, it's not just a missed chance to be there, but a reminder of how drastically the landscape has shifted in just a season. The Parisian side he left has rebuilt smartly, with Ousmane Dembele being a differentiating factor with 21 Ligue 1 goals and 8 Champions League goals this season.

Luis Enrique, once questioned for taking over a team without its trio of superstars, now stands vindicated.

Real Madrid and Mbappe: A Complex Fit

Back in Madrid, the post-mortem continues. The Spanish media has not been kind to the Frenchman.

“Kylian Mbappe doesn’t structure Real Madrid’s game and I have doubts he ever will,” said Cadena SER’s Jesus Gallego. “He’s a player who runs for it, who makes individual plays. He’s not a footballer who plays collectively.”

The Bernabeu has already voiced its doubts — Mbappe was booed by his own fans during a recent clash with Athletic Club. The pressure is mounting.

Hope on the Horizon?

And yet, the story isn't finished. Mbappe has still contributed more than 40 goal involvements this season despite battling through adaptation issues, tactical mismatches, and injuries. With a month left in the league and a potential Club World Cup appearance to come, there's still a chance for redemption.

A standout performance at Montjuic against Barcelona could change narratives. Being decisive when it matters most is what Mbappe was signed for. He knows better than anyone that football moves fast — and one month can flip the script.

Full Circle?

Ironically, PSG reaching another final without him isn't entirely new territory for Mbappe. During his time in Paris, the club reached the 2020 final and two additional semi-finals. But now, for the first time, he watches from the outside. From being PSG’s talisman to becoming Madrid’s uncertain centerpiece, the Champions League remains both his goal and his ghost.

For now, the final in Munich will go on without him. And that, more than anything, might be the most painful blow of all.