Mbappe Gets Mixed Reception from Fans in Last PSG Home Game Before Scoring in 3-1 Loss 

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
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Mbappe Gets Mixed Reception from Fans in Last PSG Home Game Before Scoring in 3-1 Loss 

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)

Kylian Mbappe got a mixed reception from Paris Saint-Germain fans in his last home game for the club before scoring in a 3-1 home defeat against Toulouse in the French league on Sunday.

Mbappe grabbed his league-leading 27th goal of the season in the eighth minute after sprinting clear and rounding the goalkeeper.

But defensive errors followed as French champion PSG slipped to only its second league defeat of the season, but third straight overall after back-to-back 1-0 losses against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinals.

As the lineups were announced at Parc des Princes, there were loud jeers from sections of the crowd when Mbappe's name was read out. But shortly after, ultra supporters from the CUP — Paris Ultras Collective — unfurled a banner in his honor behind one of the goals.

It read “Enfant de la Banlieu” (Kid from the Suburbs) in reference to the Parisian suburb of Bondy where Mbappe grew up. They also made a giant tifo in his image, featuring Mbappe in a trademark pose with his arms crossed. Mbappe went over to the fans and applauded.

After the final whistle, fans sang “On est les Champions” (We are the Champions) but did not chant Mbappe's name.

Mbappe publicly confirmed on Friday that he is leaving at the end of the season, having already informed the club in mid-February. He spoke Friday in a video posted on X and not through the club’s communications department.

Although he has yet to announce his destination, Mbappe is widely expected to join 14-time Champions League winner Real Madrid.

Mbappe's early goal was quickly canceled out by Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga following slack defending.

Midway through the second period, PSG’s defenders backed off and forward Yann Gboho curled a fine shot into the top right corner. With seconds remaining in stoppage time, striker Frank Magri volleyed in from close range.

“Even though we are champions, we shouldn’t lose in this manner,” PSG winger Ousmane Dembele said. “We have to give the best versions of ourselves in every game.”

Mbappe has three matches remaining — two league games and the French Cup final against Lyon on May 25 — to add to his club-record tally of 256 goals.

Also on Sunday, Monaco clinched second place with a 2-0 win at Montpellier.

Defender Kassoum Ouatara and France midfielder Youssouf Fofana grabbed the goals for Monaco, which is six points clear of both third-place Lille and fourth-place Brest.

The top three qualify directly for the Champions League and the fourth-place side enters the qualifying rounds.

Canada striker Jonathan David reached 19 league goals as Lille won 2-1 at Nantes, and veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice to move onto 16 goals as Marseille won 3-1 at home to Lorient.

Rock-bottom Clermont was relegated after losing 1-0 at home to Lyon. Also, Metz lost 2-1 at Strasbourg, and Rennes drew 1-1 with Lens.



Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
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Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Liverpool stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield to merely inch toward Champions League qualification on Saturday as the visitors snapped their six-game Premier League losing streak.

Enzo Fernandez's bouncing free kick found its way into the net in the 36th minute to equalize for Chelsea after Ryan Gravenberch's early goal, The AP news reported.

Arne Slot's team heard boos at the final whistle after another inconsistent performance — the type that has marked their season as defending Premier League champions.

Fourth-place Liverpool is still on course to secure Champions League qualification, which it can achieve with a victory in its next game — at Aston Villa next Friday.

Gravenberch opened the scoring by curling a shot into the top right corner from just outside the area in the sixth minute.

Fernandez equalized with a long-range free kick in the 36th. He curled a bouncing strike into the area, off the far post and into the net. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stood frozen in anticipation of Wesley Fofana's attempt to redirect the ball but the Chelsea defender missed it. The ball then bounced, hit the post, and went in.

Liverpool went close in the 79th minute when Virgil van Dijk's header hit the bar. Eight minutes earlier, Dominik Szoboszlai hit the post with a shot from outside the area.


Lens Secure Champions League Spot and Send Nantes Down

Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
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Lens Secure Champions League Spot and Send Nantes Down

Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)

Teenage substitute Mezian Mesloub gave Lens a 1-0 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 on Friday to clinch his side qualification for next season's Champions League, while relegating Nantes to the second tier.

The result also keeps the Ligue 1 title race alive with second-placed Lens the only team that can still pip Paris Saint-Germain to the trophy.

The 16-year-old substitute Mesloub picked up a loose ball in the box with his first touch in the 79th minute and fired home with his second to break the deadlock on his Ligue 1 debut, AFP reported.

Lens are now guaranteed a top-three finish in Ligue 1 after moving nine points clear of fourth-placed Lille, with both teams having two matches remaining.

The top three teams in Ligue 1 qualify automatically for the Champions League phase, while the fourth-placed side heads into the qualifying rounds.

Lens, whose budget is not even a 10th of Champions League finalists PSG, are still to play the Parisians who lead them by three points and have a game in hand.

Following the win, the sell-out 38,000 crowd at Lens' Stade Bollaert stayed behind for extravagant celebrations, with the players heralded one at a time on a spotlit center-circle with fireworks flaming.

Stopping PSG remains an outside chance, but Lens are also eyeing silverware in the French Cup, with the final against Nice on May 22.

Lens, the 1998 French champions, were the surprise package earlier in the season as they reached the winter break top of the table.

Lens had three goals ruled out for offside or handball Friday as Nantes held them at bay largely thanks to goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Nantes are now guaranteed to finish in the bottom two and will be relegated from Ligue 1.

Club great Vahid Halilhodzic took over as the third coach of their season in March but could not save the Canaries.

PSG play Brest at home on Sunday but the Lens win has prevented them from mathematically wrapping up a fifth straight title this weekend.

However, their far superior goal difference means victory would all but wrap up top spot.

Luis Enrique's men will face Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30 after beating Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals.


Messi Says Argentina Up Against 'Other Favorites' in World Cup Repeat Bid

Soccer player Gianfranco Alegre, 8, poses for the picture prior to a match at the Grandoli club, where soccer star Lionel Messi played as a child in Rosario, Argentina, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Soccer player Gianfranco Alegre, 8, poses for the picture prior to a match at the Grandoli club, where soccer star Lionel Messi played as a child in Rosario, Argentina, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Messi Says Argentina Up Against 'Other Favorites' in World Cup Repeat Bid

Soccer player Gianfranco Alegre, 8, poses for the picture prior to a match at the Grandoli club, where soccer star Lionel Messi played as a child in Rosario, Argentina, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Soccer player Gianfranco Alegre, 8, poses for the picture prior to a match at the Grandoli club, where soccer star Lionel Messi played as a child in Rosario, Argentina, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Lionel Messi says Argentina fans are right to dream of a second straight World Cup crown, but warns other contenders, including France and Spain, "are in better shape.”

"There are a lot of guys who are dealing with injuries or a lack of match fitness, but the truth is that when the group is together it has been proven that it competes and always wants to win," Messi said of Argentina in an interview with host Pollo Alvarez published on YouTube.

However, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has made Inter Miami the must-see team in Major League Soccer, said the competition will be stiff, AFP reported.

"As of today, France are in great shape again. They have a ton of top-level players," he said of the team that Argentina beat in the 2022 final in Qatar.

He also tipped Spain and Brazil, called Portugal "very competitive" and noted that traditional European powers Germany and England are always dangerous.

Messi, who will turn 39 in June, has yet to officially confirm his participation in the tournament, which will be held from June 11-July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Nevertheless, the former Barcelona star stressed that he has not set any time limits on his career as his competitive hunger remains.

"I love playing football, and I'm going to do it until I can't anymore," said Messi, who earned MLS Most Valuable Player honors last season as he sparked Miami to the title and led the league in goals.

"I'm competitive," he said. "I like to win at everything ... I don't even let my son win at video games."