Kylian Mbappe Effect: Which team can now catch PSG in Ligue 1

It has been about a week since Kylian Mbappe played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-1 win over Lyon in the French Cup final.

Although he failed to score in the game, the win was enough to give him his 12th title in PSG. He leaves with an impressive haul of six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, two League Cups, and a host of individual titles.

The game also signalled the end of an era for the Frenchman, who has been the poster boy of Parc des Princes and Ligue 1. 

Since Mbappe burst into the scene in Monaco, he has been the major talking point in the league.

Even when Neymar joined the French league and Lionel Messi, with all his fans, signed for PSG, the streets and, indeed, many fans still saw Mbappe as the main face of the league. 

Ligue 1 was Mbappe’s league, and the evidence abounds. He has been the league's top scorer for six consecutive seasons. His record is unmatched by any before him, as the Frenchman is the first player in the league's history to win the sixth Ligue 1 Golden Boots. 

Mbappé also climbed the league’s all-time goal-scoring chart this season, now in seventh, ahead of legendary names like Joseph Uilaki (190 goals), Fleury Di Nallo (187 goals), and Bianchi (179 goals). He is also the outright top scorer in PSG history with 255 goals in all competitions.

Truthfully, Mbappe was a one-of-a-kind player, and PSG know they have lost a truly great player in the French national team captain. 

Despite their vast riches, the Paris-based club has never had a player like him. Not even David Beckham, Edison Cavani, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the kind of impact he had on the club.

However, PSG’s loss is someone else's gain. Mbappe's departure means less trouble for other Ligue 1 clubs, and fans of other sides will be happy he's leaving. 

After all, everyone loves it when their enemies are weakened. The 25-year-old is a wrecking ball in Ligue 1, and without him, PSG may become just another Ligue 1 team.

There are fears his departure may weaken not only PSG but the league, as it may affect its viewership and reduce the demand for Ligue 1 tickets. 

Yet, there are counter-arguments that Post-Mbappe Ligue 1 will be more competitive, as all teams will now be fairly equal or at least normal, considering that PSG will be rebuilding without a star name.

No matter which side of the argument you are on, there are no guarantees in football, and we can only watch how Mbappe's departure will affect PSG and Ligue 1. 

However, should PSG drop form next season, who are the teams most likely to catch and overtake them?

Which team is more likely to win the title or at least trouble PSG more?

Olympique Lyonnais 

Lyon is one of the teams to watch out for in Ligue 1 next year.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes-based club is one of the most successful clubs in Ligue 1 history and is the only club to have won the title seven years in a row, doing so between the 2000/2001 and 2007/08 seasons.

Although they finished a whopping 23 points behind eventual winners PSG this season, they showed signs of life, especially in the second half of the season. 

Lyon began the season poorly and was rock bottom of Ligue 1 in early December with a paltry seven points from 14 games. Their poor start led to the sacking of Laurent Blanc and Fabio Grosso, whose reign lasted only seven matches.

But they began to turn things around in late December just after Pierre Sage, the head of the club's youth academy, had been named interim coach. The 44-year-old Sage, who had never played at a high level and had never previously coached a senior team, lost his first two matches at the helm.

But he oversaw a remarkable turnaround, helping the club go from the relegation zone to a top-six finish that has qualified them for the Europa League next season. No Ligue 1 team won more points than Lyon in 2024 (37 points), with their wins (D1, L4) putting them one point ahead of PSG in the 2024 Ligue 1 annual table. 

Their form means that they are the team to watch next season. If everything goes to plan and they strengthen in the transfer window, they could topple PSG.

Monaco

Monaco is the second team they could topple Post-Mbappe PSG. The Principality club finished as runner-ups this season, nine points behind Luis Enrique's side.

But they are historically one of the most successful clubs in French football, with eight league titles to their name. Adi Hütter’s side has one of the richest owners among Ligue 1 clubs and is one of the best-run clubs in France.

They enjoyed a steady season but remained under the shadow of PSG. However, the gap between both teams was very narrow in the second half of the season, with Hütter’s men (34) winning just two points less than PSG (36) in 2024.

With the right investment this summer, Monaco should be able to trouble PSG next year.

Lille

Lille is the last club not named Paris Saint-Germain to win the Ligue 1 title, having done so three seasons ago. 

The Hauts-de-France-based club is one of Ligue 1’s top teams and could regain its place if everything goes well this summer. They finished fourth in Ligue 1 this season and were the fourth most in-form team in 2024, behind Lyon, PSG and Monaco. 

With Kylian Mbappe gone, Les Dogues now have arguably the best striker in France: Jonathan David. The Canadian has scored 84 goals for Lille since arriving in 2020. 

However, Lille may struggle next season, given that they will lose their current coach Paulo Fonseca to AC Milan. So, it could be another season of rebuilding for the four-time Ligue 1 winners unless they get their summer recruitment right. 

Getting a top-quality coach and keeping their best players is their only chance of making them progress next season.

Marseille 

Marseille may have finished a long way off Paris Saint-Germain, but they can be the team to rule Ligue 1 in Mbappe's absence.

Jean-Louis Gasset’s side had an inconsistent season and finished in eighth place, 26 points behind the champions. But they have the foundation for success, and if they get their recruitment right this summer, they could be the team to watch next season.

Winning the league will require magic, though as Marseille has not won the Ligue 1 title since the 1991/92 season, finishing runner-up on eight occasions since then. 

However, the fact that they won't be distracted by European football next season could help them topple PSG.

The outsiders—Nice, Lens and Brest

OGC Nice is another club that has the potential to become a powerhouse in Ligue 1 next season.

The club, backed by the INEOS Group, finished inside the top five. They have a good squad and ambitious owners who have shown they can be ruthless when needed. 

According to reports, the club owners are plotting to bring highly-rated Lens coach Franck Haise to oversee their project. The Frenchman is one of the best coaches in France and may help establish Nice as a top dog in France.

However, it remains to be seen whether INEOS will be able to support their team and keep their most important players. 

Meanwhile, RC Lens, under the management of Franck Haise, punched above their weight and ruffled some feathers. They famously finished with 84 points last season but were unable to topple PSG. With Mbappe now out of the picture, they could become a force to reckon with next season.

But the news of their coach leaving for OGC Nice may put a spanner in their works, stopping them from taking the next step in their development.

Finally, the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season's surprise package, Stade Brestois 29, can be the surprise team of next season.

Brest’s story has been remarkable. Just five years ago, they were playing in Ligue 2. They finished 14th last season but jumped eleven places to finish third this season.

Can they take the next step and finish in first place, as Montpellier did in 2011/12, going from 14th position the previous season to winning the title in 2012?

If Leicester can do it in the Premier League, Brest can in Ligue 1, as nothing is impossible in football.