Battling with his former club Paris Saint-Germain over wages and fighting with Swedish authorities over an alleged sexual assault, there were at least a few glad tidings for Kylian Mbappé before the resumption of the domestic leagues following the break for international matches: Real Madrid fans deemed him to be their best player during September.
"I'm very happy and grateful for the recognition from the Real Madrid supporters," wrote Mbappé. "It's a pleasure to be voted player of the month," the 25-year-old added.
This recognition offers a quantum of solace for the all-action hero, whose reputation passes through the Scandinavian shredders following his 48-hour trip to Stockholm.
Described as a trip to recharge his batteries, the Swedish sojourn between 9 and 11 October has been anything but.
Instead it seems to be discharging thousands of euros from his bank accounts into the coffers of his legal and PR teams who are attempting to reestablish a semblance of normality in his life.
On Thursday, Mbappé's lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, told the French news agency AFP that her client would be keeping his own counsel.
"He retains primacy of his explanations, if necessary, to the Swedish justice system."
Mbappé to take legal action for libel over Swedish rape investigation
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If the allegations of rape are eventually dropped, what will emerge is the story of a filthy rich young man waving his cash around the beau monde in plush hotels and swanky night clubs.
It's a pivot from the squeaky clean boy-next-door schtick.
Yet it's been a long time since Mbappé was just another ordinary kid. At 13, he won a place at France's elite football training centre in Clairefontaine, and at 15 entered Monaco's academy.
He progressed rapidly through the youth teams to become, at 16 years and 11 months, the youngest player to play for Monaco in a professional match. A couple of months, after his 17th birthday, he entered club legend as the outfit's youngest goalscorer.
Selected by PSG in 2017 to be part of their lust for silverware project, the 18-year-old arrived in the French capital to play alongside Neymar, the world's most expensive player. Lionel Messi would join the duo in 2021 to form a mouthwatering troika.
Otherworldly phases of play operated between the sheen within the team for two seasons.
Departure
Mbappé was the last of the trio to leave, and his has been the most fractious of the departures.
In August 2023, Mbappé said he would not take up his contract's option of a further year and leave as a free agent in June 2024.
Outraged, the PSG hierarchy told new boss Luis Enrique to go on a tour of Japan and South Korea without their star striker.
But Mbappé was eventually reintegrated into the first team squad and PSG swept the board domestically winning the French Super Cup, Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
Former PSG hero Mbappé joins 'dream' club Real Madrid on a five-year deal
PSG executives claim that under an agreement to return to the first team, Mbappé said he would waive €55 million in various bonuses and then leave for Madrid.
Duly ensconced in Madrid, Mbappé says he is owed the cash.
The sum Mbappé is claiming is comprised of the last third of a signing-on fee, of €36 million gross pay – which he was supposed to receive in February – three months of salary and an ethics bonus covering the same period.
As Mbappé fights for his renown and money, Paul Pogba, his teammate in France's 2018 World Cup winning squad, told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he would be willing to take a wage cut to play for Juventus.
Nightmare
"I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve," Pogba told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I'm prepared to give up money to be able to play for Juve again," he added. "I want to come back to this club."
The 31-year-old was banned in February for four years for failing a drugs test in August 2023. The suspension was reduced to 18 months following an appeal which will allow Pogba to return to action in March 2025.
Though the Juventus boss Thiago Motta remains dubious abut the sideshow around the gifted midfielder, a Pogba motivated by a return to the France international team could provide a boost in the Serie A title run-in.
"Football is the strawberry cake that was taken out of my mouth," Pogba said in an interview with the French sports channel L'Equipe TV.
"But the nightmare is over. I am really looking forward to coming back."
Mbappé returned from the thigh injury that kept him out of France's Nations League wins over Israel and Belgium and scored the opener in Madrid's 2-1 win at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday night.
Asked for his thoughts on the events circling the striker, the Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, himself a former professional player, said: "The days off were scheduled for him and then each one chooses what he wants to do.
"I went to London for two days," Ancelotti added. "And I didn't ask anyone for permission. I don't have a travel agency to organise the players' trips either."
Mbappé’s legal battle, however, may prove tougher than weaving past a couple of defenders.
