What Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid means for everyone

We probably still shouldn’t believe it until we see him attempting to juggle a commemorative soccer ball in front of the media and fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it seems like it finally happened. Kylian Mbappé has signed with Real Madrid, the club announced on Monday.

Thus ends nearly a half-decade of coy will-he-won’t-he between Mbappe, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, a succession of Paris Saint-Germain managers, every French player on Real Madrid, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and even the French prime minister, Emmanuel Macron.

While it’s normal to feel worn down by this saga — as well as a resignation at the inevitability of Real Madrid signing the best soccer player in the world — this is still quite rare. The best soccer player in the world rarely changes teams because whatever team is employing the best soccer player in the world (A) wants to keep said player, and (B) likely has enough money to continue employing said player.

The last time the best player in the world changed teams was maybe Lionel Messi, who moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021, thanks to Barca’s incredible financial incompetence. But Messi was already 34 years old at that point. The last time the best player in the world changed teams in his prime arguably was when Cristiano Ronaldo went from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, or more likely when the Brazilian Ronaldo changed from Inter Milan to Real Madrid in 2002.

Sensing a theme here? On the rare occasion a young, established, worldwide superstar switches teams, he tends to join Real Madrid. Let’s break down the implications for the player, his new club, and his old club.