Mbappe Beats Messi’s Champions League KO Away Goals Mark at Age 25 As PSG Advance to Last 8

Mbappe Beats Messi’s Champions League KO Away Goals Mark at Age 25 As PSG Advance to Last 8

Joel Reyes
March 6, 2024 at 8:51 AM
In this article:
Kylian Mbappé logo
K.Mbappé
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) logoFFrance logo
Lionel Messi logo
L.Messi
Inter Miami CF logoFArgentina logo
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) logo
PSG
France
35
FC Barcelona logo
FC Barcelona
Spain
36
UEFA Champions League logo
UEFA UCL
Europe
  • Kylian Mbappe led PSG to victory in their Champions League tie with Real Sociedad on Tuesday
  • The Frenchman scored twice in the second leg to send Paris Saint-Germain to the last 8
  • He passed Lionel Messi's away goals tally in the Champions League knockout stage

Kylian Mbappe can't stop scoring for Paris Saint-Germain.

The Frenchman scored all of PSG's goals in their second-leg win over Real Sociedad in the Champions League on Tuesday.

With that brace, Mbappe passed Lionel Messi's away goals mark in the knockout stage of the European Cup.

Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, UEFA Champions League
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in action for PSG and Barcelona in the Champions League. Images: David Ramos/ VI Images.
Source: Getty Images

Sports Brief compares their numbers on their travels in Europe's biggest club competition.

Mbappe's away goals in Champions League KO

Season

Team

KO Matches on the road

Away Goals in KO

2016-17

Monaco

3

4

2017-18

Monaco

1

0

2018-19

Paris Saint-Germain

1

1

2019-20

Paris Saint-Germain

3

0

2020-21

Paris Saint-Germain

3

5

2021-22

Paris Saint-Germain

1

1

2022-23

Paris Saint-Germain

1

0

2023-24

Paris Saint-Germain

1

2

Mbappe needed just 14 away matches in the knockout rounds of the Champions League to pass Messi's mark, scoring 13 goals over eight seasons, per TransferMarkt.

He made his Champions League debut in the 2016-17. He made an immediate impact for Monaco, scoring four goals in three knockout matches on the road.

He scored once in the 5-3 loss to Manchester City in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie. He then scored a brace in Monaco's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final.

He also scored in the second leg of their semi-final showdown against Juventus.

Mbappe moved to PSG in 2018 and he was clutch for them in away games in the Champions League.

He scored a goal in their 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Round of 16 at Old Trafford. They failed to hold on to that advantage, though, as they lost 3-1 to the Red Devils in the second leg at home.

Mbappe was unstoppable in the 2020-21 season, scoring five goals in three knockout matches on the road.

He scored a hat-trick in PSG's 4-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

He then scored a brace in PSG's 3-2 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final at Allianz Arena.

Mbappe scored a goal in their 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Bernabeu. That goal wasn't enough to rescue them, however, from an early exit.

The Frenchman passed Messi's tally on Tuesday, scoring a brace in PSG's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie.

Messi's away goals in Champions League KO

Season

Team

KO Matches on the road

Away Goals in KO

2006-07

Barcelona

1

0

2007-08

Barcelona

2

2

2008-09

Barcelona

3

0

2009-10

Barcelona

3

0

2010-11

Barcelona

3

3

2011-12

Barcelona

3

1

2012-13

Barcelona

3

1

2013-14

Barcelona

2

1

2014-15

Barcelona

3

0

2015-16

Barcelona

2

2

2016-17

Barcelona

2

0

2017-18

Barcelona

2

1

2018-19

Barcelona

3

0

2019-20

Barcelona

1

0

2020-21

Barcelona

1

1

2021-22

Paris Saint-Germain

1

0

2022-23

Paris Saint-Germain

1

0

Messi being the GOAT has been questioned by some, using the fact that he has struggled to score in away matches in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

He has scored just 12 goals in 36 knockout matches he played on the road with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

He did help Barcelona record a 3-2 win over Celtic in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash in the 2007-08 season, scoring twice in that contest.

Messi found his groove in the 2010-11 Champions League season, scoring three goals in three knockout matches on the road.

He scored the match-winner in the second leg of Barca's quarter-final showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk before netting a double against bitter rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final at the Bernabeu.

Messi later called this his best game for Barcelona.

He scored just one goal each in away matches in the knockout rounds in the next three seasons for Barcelona.

The Argentine star netted a double against Arsenal in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Emirates in the 2015-16 season.

He then helped Barcelona salvage a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 clash in the 2017-18 season, scoring an equaliser in the 75th minute.

His last away goal in the knockout rounds of the Champions League came in the 2020-21 season. He scored once in Barcelona's 1-1 draw with PSG in the last 16.

Nasri calls Mbappe the world's best

Sports Brief recently reported on Mbappe being called the world's best player by a former Arsenal star.

Samir Nasri gave him that tag after his brace against Real Sociedad.

Mbappe became the second-youngest player to reach 45 Champions League goals in both the group stage and knockout rounds following Tuesday's double.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.