Kylian Mbappe (foto: Instagram)
Kylian Mbappé was wished a happy birthday by PSG just days after a court ordered the club to pay him €60m in unpaid wages and bonuses following a long-running legal dispute.
Kylian Mbappé received an unexpected birthday message from Paris Saint-Germain, just days after winning a high-profile legal battle against his former club.
The timing raised eyebrows. Earlier this week, a Paris labour court ordered PSG to pay Mbappé €60 million in unpaid wages and bonuses, following a bitter dispute that has dragged on since his departure.
Mbappé had originally sought €264 million, while PSG countersued for €243 million, arguing damages linked to his failed €300 million move to Al-Hilal in 2023. In the end, the court ruled in the player’s favour, awarding just over a fifth of the amount claimed.
Most of the sum reportedly relates to unpaid bonuses. Mbappé’s lawyer, Frédérique Cassereau, welcomed the verdict.
“We are satisfied with this ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid,” she said.
His legal team added that the decision sent a clear message.
“This judgment confirms that commitments entered into must be honoured. Even in professional football, labour law applies to everyone,” the statement read.
Despite the tension, PSG publicly took the high road. The club confirmed it would comply with the ruling, while reserving the right to appeal.
“Paris Saint-Germain takes note of the judgment pronounced by the Paris Labour Court, which it will execute, while reserving the right to appeal,” the club said. “The club now looks to the future and wishes the player the best for the rest of his career.”
Then came the surprise. On December 20, as Mbappé turned 27, PSG posted a birthday message on social media.
“Kylian Mbappé celebrates his 27th birthday! Happy birthday, Kylian,” the club wrote on X.
The post quickly went viral. Some fans reacted with disbelief, with one calling it “the most expensive happy birthday in history”, while another asked bluntly: “Aren’t you ashamed?”
Mbappé spent seven seasons at PSG, winning multiple domestic trophies before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024. While relations have clearly been strained, the public gesture suggests an attempt to close the chapter with dignity.
The forward could yet make the celebration even sweeter on the pitch. Real Madrid, currently second in La Liga, face Sevilla on Saturday night.
One more goal at the Santiago Bernabéu would see Mbappé equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Los Blancos.
From courtrooms to goal records, Mbappé’s birthday week has been anything but ordinary.