Even without playing, PSG star lifts UCL trophy while Mbappe still falls short

PSG successfully defended their Champions League title, and Presnel Kimpembe was still invited by teammates to lift the trophy on coronation day. In contrast, Kylian Mbappe once again missed out on European glory.

When Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their Champions League championship by beating Arsenal in the final in Budapest, one of the most touching moments came not from the heroes on the pitch, but from Presnel Kimpembe.

The French center-back is no longer in PSG's playing plans this season due to long-term injuries. He didn't even feature in the final and spent most of the season off the pitch. Yet when the final whistle blew, PSG players voluntarily pulled Kimpembe into the center of the celebration to lift the prestigious Champions League trophy together.

That was a special reward for an icon of the Parc des Princes. Coming through PSG's academy, Kimpembe has been with the first team since 2014 and witnessed the club's ups and downs for over a decade. He was a key figure in their Ligue 1 conquests but also endured many heartbreaks in the European arena.

Therefore, Kimpembe lifting the Champions League trophy for the second consecutive time with PSG carries special significance. Even though he no longer plays a key role on the pitch, he is still regarded as an inseparable part of the history of the Parisian club.

Notably, that moment creates a striking contrast with Kylian Mbappe. The star once considered PSG's biggest icon left the club to join Real Madrid with the ambition of conquering the Champions League. However, while PSG has consecutively triumphed in the last two seasons since his departure, Mbappe has yet to get his hands on the most prestigious club trophy in Europe.

Kimpembe, who barely played and is no longer a regular option for the team, was on the podium to receive the trophy. Meanwhile, Mbappe, the player who was once built as the centerpiece of PSG's project for years, is still waiting for the trophy he desires most.

Before the final, Kimpembe was even chosen by UEFA as a special ambassador to bring the Champions League trophy onto the pitch. Just a few hours later, his former teammates gave him the chance to lift that same trophy. An emotional image showing that in football, sometimes loyalty and long-term commitment can be rewarded in the most special way.