The 2024-25 season will be the first for Paris Saint-Germain without Kylian Mbappé since his arrival in the summer of 2017. The Frenchman is PSG’s all-time leading scorer, and in his seven years with the club, he has scored plenty of memorable goals. So, now that he is suiting up for Real Madrid, where will the goals come from?
Whenever Mbappé was on the pitch, he was almost certain to score. Last season, Mbappé scored 44 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions, including 29 to lead Ligue 1. Scoring goals for the 25-year-old last season was as easy as it is for some to play at 5 Euro deposit casinos. This year, Luis Enrique has to figure out how to make up that 44-goal absence.
Recently, the manager alluded to how he plans to replace Mbappé, stating, “…based on my experience, it is better to have four players scoring 12 [goals]—that would make 48, which is more than 40. I think it’s a fascinating challenge. It’s a challenge to show that football is a collective sport.”
So, which four players stand the best chance of scoring at least 12 goals this season? You have to start with Bradley Barcola, who will likely start most matches on the left wing, which is where Mbappé spent most of last season. In limited playing time, and mostly coming off the bench, Barcola scored four goals in 25 Ligue 1 appearances. With more playing time, it’s easy to imagine him scoring at least 12 goals, if not more.
Ousmane Dembélé is the next player who needs to step up. The Frenchman did start most matches but only managed to net three goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances. Dembélé has the unique ability to beat his defender and get into dangerous positions, but last season, he struggled with his finished. If he can be more clinical, 12 goals isn’t impossible to imagine.
The other 24 goals will have to come from Randal Kolo Muani, Gonçalo Ramos, or Désiré Doué. Ramos scored 11 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances, and once again, most of those came with him coming off the bench. Doué scored four goals in Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais, but most defenders were locked on him, he will experience a lot more freedom at PSG. Lastly, Kolo Muani really needs to step up. He had plenty of opportunities, but the Frenchman only managed to score six goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances.
Regardless of where the goals come from, it’s safe to say there is plenty of firepower left at PSG without Mbappé.
