Kylian Mbappe moved one step closer to breaking Lionel Messi’s long standing record after scoring a dramatic late winner for Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 champions elect looked like they would be forced to settle for a point against Rennes, ona frustrating night at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe had already seen a second half goal chalked off for a dubious offside call, before the 23-year-old popped up with an injury time winner.
The victory puts PSG a staggering 16 points clear as they look destined to coast towards another French top-flight title.
Despite the presence of Lionel Messi this season, Mbappe has remained PSG’s main man, scoring 21 times and registering 16 assists in just 31 games in all competitions.
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Friday night’s strike was his 12th in Ligue 1 this season and brought him level with team-mate Messi’s record of 119 goals in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues before the age of 24.
Mbappe doesn’t turn 24 until the end of the year and so looks nailed on to usurp his legendary strike partner.
And he could yet overtake him by another measurable, with PSG bosses ready to make the World Cup winner the club’s highest paid player.
PSg are desperate to keep hold of the striker, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Real Madrid are said to be leading the race for the striker having offered him a five-year deal worth £200million , which will see him pocket around £770,000-a-week.
Mbappe is believed to earn €25m per year at PSG, with only Messi (€41m/£34.7m) and Neymar (€36.8m/£31.1m) currently taking home more at the French outfit.
And, according to RMC Sport via Get French Football News , PSG will make him their highest-paid player by offering him an astronomical "short-term" deal.
Mbappe and PSG are due to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League this month, with the player admitting he will not make a decision until the conclusion of the quarter-final tie.
"No, no, I haven’t made my decision," said the World Cup winner in his most recent interview. "I think playing against Real Madrid changes a lot of things.
"Even if right now I’m free to do what I want, I’m not going to go speak to the opponent or do that kind of thing.
"I’m concentrated on beating Real Madrid and making the difference, after that we’ll see what happens."
Meanwhile, Messi’s assist for Mbappe’s winner means he has now contributed 10 goals in his last 10 games for PSG (3 goals and 7 assists) as he puts his inconsistent early-season form behind him.
