• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot

Adding up the Cost of a Failed Superteam, As Mbappé Plans PSG Exit

  • The superteam that wasn’t is officially no more.
  • PSG spent hundreds of millions for two league banners.
Kylian Mbappé
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Paris Saint-Germain’s superteam-that-wasn’t appears to be over. Star forward Kylian Mbappé will reportedly leave the French powerhouse this summer to sign with Spanish power Real Madrid, ending a nearly seven-year run with the team. In 2021, the club seemed on the brink of assembling a soccer dynasty after acquiring former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar to complement Mbappé, creating one of the most talented scoring trios the game has ever seen. Here’s what it cost PSG:

  • Mbappé: PSG paid $194 million to Monaco in 2017, with a mandatory purchase option. He earned $80 million over three years on his first contract with PSG. In ’22, Mbappé signed a three-year, $235 million extension with $65 million in bonuses. 
  • Messi: In 2021 he signed a two-year deal for $36 million a year, with the option for a third season at the same rate.
  • Neymar: He transferred from Barcelona for a record $239 million in 2017. The Brazilian star earned $217 million over four years from his first PSG contract, plus $122 million more through two years on a five-year extension signed in ’21 worth more than $300 million total.

However, money can’t buy a championship, as the team struggled to get its three stars on the field together through a combination of injuries, international commitments, and conditioning issues. Messi broke up the trio last summer when he left for MLS, and Neymar followed shortly afterward. Paris Saint-Germain never made a deep run in the Champions League in the two seasons they were together and didn’t even see a full season with the trio. Here’s what PSG got: 

  • 0 Champions League titles (eliminated in the round of 16 each time) 
  • 2 Ligue 1 titles
  • 39 total matches played together, out of 100 possible matches

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Leo Messi
exclusive

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Defends Messi Suspension

Messi was punished for skipping the MLS All-Star Game.

NFL Preseason Getting Earliest Kickoff in 25 Years

The Lions and Chargers face off in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Trey Hendrickson Ends $450K Holdout Without New Bengals Deal

The defensive end is seeking a raise on his $16 million 2025 salary.

Browns Push Forward on $2.4B Stadium Despite Political Obstacles

The NFL team plans a stadium groundbreaking, despite funding and legal issues.

Featured Today

Coco Gauff at New York Liberty

How the New York Liberty Became the Hottest Ticket in Town

Once banished to the burbs, the Libs are now Brooklyn’s marquee attraction.
Las Vegas sign
July 29, 2025

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training
July 28, 2025

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.
Limited Hype
July 27, 2025

Sneaker Reselling Was Once Easy Money. Success Is Now Complicated

Vendors need to evolve what they’re selling and how they do it.

Bengals Extend Stadium Lease After $350M in Public Funds for Renovation

The Bengals will stay in the 25-year-old stadium through at least 2036.
July 31, 2025

Ferrari Extends F1 Boss Weeks After Red Bull Fire Horner

Fred Vasseur joined Ferrari in 2023.
August 1, 2025

Commanders Seal Stadium Deal As D.C. Approves $1.1B in Funding

The NFL team’s return to its prior home receives key political support.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 30, 2025

Mayor Calls Commanders RFK Stadium Deal ‘a BFD’ for D.C.’s Future

The NFL team makes a series of additional commitments.
July 29, 2025

Wrexham’s Ambition Replaces Fan Favorites With Pricey Additions

Wrexham has already added six new players.
July 29, 2025

Mario Lemieux Trying to Reacquire Penguins 4 Years After Selling

The former NHL great looks to return to team ownership.
Jun 10, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever injured guard Caitlin Clark (22) follows the action from the bench against the Atlanta Dream during the second half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
July 24, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s Injury Not Worse, but Status for Chicago, Dallas Unclear

Clark has been out since suffering a groin injury on July 15.