Mbappe forced to watch Champions League dream vanish from sofa

Kylian Mbappe made his long-awaited move to Real Madrid to turn his dream of winning the Champions League into reality. Despite a brilliant individual season with Los Blancos, the Frenchman will have to wait another year to lift Europe's elite club trophy, as his former side edge closer to glory.

One match separates Paris Saint-Germain from a new reality, one in which they can taste Champions League success for the first time in their history. And as the world stops to focus its attention on Saturday's showpiece at the Allianz Arena, so will Mbappe, but from his sofa instead of the pitch.

While streets, pubs and squares will be packed with thousands of thrilled fans, the 26-year-old will be sitting alone in front of a screen, watching, or perhaps even cheering with feelings of regret and nostalgia, for the team that many thought could not win without him.

Real Madrid has always been the goal for Mbappe, but PSG was his home. His departure was not an easy one for either. The Parisians had money, power and love, but, in the end, the Champions League was the one thing they were missing. Ironically, they might conquer it now that he is gone.

PSG have always been criticised for having a star-packed and unbalanced squad, but that all changed with Mbappe's exit. A silent revolution led by manager Luis Enrique has seen the Rouge et Bleus turn into a real team, with chemistry and their own identity.

Players like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ousmane Dembele, who seem to be struggling to make an impact, have been transformed into key figures for the Asturian head coach, while younger individuals like Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have seen massive growth.

While Paris Saint-Germain dream big ahead of Saturday's final, Mbappe will have to settle for a Golden Boot award - which is no meaningless prize - for this year. His date with the Champions League trophy might have been postponed, but it does not necessarily mean that it is never coming.