What will Ligue 1 look like when Kylian Mbappe leaves?

After years of speculation, one of the greatest transfer sagas of the 21st century looks set to end. 

Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid has been a matter of intense speculation since the Frenchman broke out at Monaco. Los Blancos and the player have always wanted each other, but Paris Saint-Germain and his loyalty to France have stood in their way.

However, according to several reports, the 25-year-old will finally join Real Madrid this summer when his deal at Parc des Princes expires. Though the player and Madrid have been tight-lipped about the deal, with Real Madrid president Fiorentina Perez recently playing dumb when questioned about the player, all the indicators point to a summer move to Santiago Bernabeu.

For example, PSG coach Luis Enrique has begun dropping Mbappe in some games, with the Spanish coach citing the player's future departure as his reason. Also, several sources close to the player have mentioned that his heart is set on Madrid. At the same time, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has weighed in on the transfer, practically confirming its imminence by criticising Real Madrid for the amount they will spend in the deal.

So, barring any drastic turn of events, Mbappe will be a Madrid player next season, even though questions about whether Real Madrid needs him abound.

But how will Ligue 1 become without Kylian Mbappe? How will the league, considered the weakest among Europe's top five leagues, fare without one of the best players in the world?

Mbappe's Ligue 1 Influence 

The Frenchman has been the poster boy of Ligue 1 since his breakout year in Monaco. The 25-year-old won the league title in 2017 before moving to PSG, where he continued to be hugely influential despite the abundance of star names at Parc des Princes. Mbappe's influence in Ligue 1 is unlike any seen in this century, with even Neymar and Lionel Messi, though more senior players and established names, unable to command the kind of influence he has in Ligue 1.

The boy from Bondy has been Ligue 1's top scorer for the last five seasons and has been named Ligue 1 Player of the Year a record four times. He is also the first player to finish as Ligue 1's top scorer and assist provider. Such is his star power in the league that losing him could be bigger than La Liga losing Lionel Messi in 2021. 

Mbappe genuinely has pulling power, and his over 110 million Instagram followers prove that. The French captain is among the most followed footballers on the social media app, even though he isn't so social media crazy. He's particularly popular among the new generation of fans and has more Instagram followers than all of the Ligue 1 clubs combined.

Although social media doesn't always translate to reality, you can bet that a random guy in California has a higher chance of recognising Mbappe than differentiating if Brest is a football team or African cuisine, even though Brest is currently second in Ligue 1, a league named after Uber Eats, a company based in California.

Many non-French league fans watch Ligue 1 because of Mbappe. They did before because of Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, and David Beckham. But today, the chance to see Mbappe draws neutrals to buy Ligue 1 tickets and watch their games.

Will Ligue 1 Decline without Mbappe?

Mbappe's departure may negatively affect the league's viewership, considering that the 25-year-old is arguably the world's best player. However, the negative impact of his departure may be temporary, and Ligue 1 could actually benefit eventually, as Mbappe's departure could make the French league more competitive and attractive for true football lovers.

For context, Ligue 1's TV viewership increased steadily before PSG became the dominant team in the league. Since the Qatar-backed club became the dominant force in the league, it has been less attractive to fans, as it is assumed that PSG will win regardless of other teams' form and brilliance. 

For example, Montpellier's Ligue 1 title win in the 2011/12 season attracted a lot of attention, as for the first time in a while, someone other than PSG ate the only pie on the shelf. But PSG dominating the league doesn't help viewership, the same way that Bayern Munich's dominance of the Bundesliga does not help viewership and competition.  

Although it's not guaranteed that PSG will not 'farm' Ligue 1 after Mbappe's departure, his departure could create more intrigue and make the league more competitive.

Emerging of New Names

Post-Mbappe Ligue 1 will also open the door for the emergence of other names. For several years, Ligue 1 has not had several non-PSG stars playing in the league at the same time. But Mbappe's departure will mean another poster boy or a group of poster boys emerge from the league.

Without Mbappe, Warren Zaire-Emery Jonathan David, Folarin Balogun, Youssouf Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romain Del Castillo, Edon Zhegrova, Brice Samba, Elye Wahi, Ismaïla Sarr and other players can all aim to become the best player in the league. 

Also, apart from the emerging names already in the league, new additions can also feel confident in establishing a name for themselves, not hiding under the shadow of the French captain. Victor Osimhen, who is being tipped to replace Mbappe at PSG, will be allowed to shine. At the same time, other players performing could start enjoying the hype and attention Mbappe used to enjoy in the league.

Long Term Planning

Mbappe's departure should not result in Ligue 1's decline if the league makes the most of the new phase. Not every tragedy should be fatal. If the right things are done, a tragedy can become a good thing–not like Mbappe's departure is a tragedy, anyway. 

French President Emanuel Macron has tried so hard to make him remain in the league and in France. But with the star player now Madrid-bound, Macron should now focus all his energy on making the French league one of the best in Europe, able to keep its best players. The league has the potential to be the best league in Europe should long-term planning and strong leadership be put in place. 

France is a genuinely footballing nation, and from the grassroots to the professional level, there is no shortage of quality. The French national team is arguably the most stocked in the world, and French players are among the best in every European league. Harnessing this massive talent pool should become Ligue 1's obsession post-Mbappe. 

As we stated above, this will require long-term planning and strong leadership. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve, with Portugal an example of a nation repeating the harvest of proper planning and leadership. The Portuguese league is gradually closing the gap on Europe's top five leagues with brilliant transfers and strong leadership.

France can do the same, even more so as it possesses more quality from the grassroots to the top level. But, like Portugal, they have to invest heavily in improving the quality of their clubs and coaching program. Few French coaches are currently among the top brass in Europe, so there must be intentionality from Ligue 1 if they want to close the gap. 

Finally, the league and France generally have to show strong leadership in addressing crowd trouble, threatening to ruin football in the country. In the last four seasons, fan violence has been on the rise in Ligue 1, and any attempt to make the league more competitive without arresting the constant attack of fans by hooligans might be futile.