I play to write history, says record-breaker Mbappe

Superstar becomes PSG's all-time top scorer ahead of Bayern showdown

PARIS — Kylian Mbappe became Paris Saint-Germain's all-time top scorer with his 201st goal for the club as the Ligue 1 leader warmed up for its crunch trip to Bayern Munich with a 4-2 win over Nantes on Saturday.

The France superstar had equaled Edinson Cavani's previous record mark of 200 goals with a brace in the recent win at Marseille and went one better by netting in stoppage time at Parc des Princes.

"I was still a young player when I arrived here. I've learned a lot here," Mbappe said after his 247th game with PSG. "I play to write history, and I always said that I want to do it here, in France, in its capital city. . . .It's a personal achievement but I also came here for collective achievements."

PSG had earlier squandered a two-goal lead, with Lionel Messi putting it ahead and a Jaouen Hadjam own-goal making it 2-0 inside 17 minutes before Nantes fought back to draw level.

Ludovic Blas pulled one back for the visitor and Ignatius Ganago equalized, but Mbappe set up Danilo Pereira to put PSG back in front on the hour mark and then claimed his record-breaking goal late on.

Mbappe reached the record in just 247 appearances since signing from Monaco aged 18 in 2017.

Uruguay star Cavani needed 298 games, and seven years, to establish the previous record in 2020.

The 24-year-old Mbappe was handed a trophy by the club after the game to mark his record in an on-field presentation.

"I play to make history and I have always said I wanted to make history in France, in the capital of my country, in my city, and I am doing that. It's magnificent, but there is still a lot to be done," Mbappe, who finished the game as captain, told broadcaster Canal Plus.

"For me, as a native Parisian, this is special. If someone had said to me I would score the goal to beat the record while wearing the captain's armband, I would not have believed it."

The result saw PSG open up a lead of 11 points at the top of Ligue 1 before nearest rival Marseille played on Sunday, and before the Qatar-owned club goes to Bayern for the second leg of its Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

PSG trails 1-0 from the first leg against the Bavarian giant and failure to progress to the quarterfinals in Europe would put a major dampener on the end of its season.