PSG trundled to a 3-1 away win over Guingamp at the weekend with a couple of goals from Kylian Mbappe padding out the scoreline at the Stade du Roudourou.
While there was nothing remotely strange about seeing PSG clout their Ligue 1 opponents to ascend to the top of the table, Mbappe’s second goal certainly raised a quizzical eyebrow or two.
A decent goal in its own right, it soon came to light that Mbappe’s 90th-minute dink was a near carbon copy of a goal scored by Ronaldinho, for PSG, playing in white, against Guingamp, playing in red, back in 2003…
Déjà vu?! @KMbappe vs. Guingamp (2018) @10Ronaldinho vs. Guingamp (2003)
Hmmm… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9ZqXNR8Ajd
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) 20 August 2018
Sure, they’ve conveniently edited around the bits that aren’t identical (the Ronaldinho step-over, etc) but still, we’re willing to give PSG that one – the two goals are very similar and the kit colour thing is an intriguing quirk too.
The universe moves in mysterious ways. Does this mean that Mbappe is the cosmic reincarnation of Ronaldinho, sent here by fate to deliver football from its dreary, po-faced, business-led demise by reminding us all that above all else it’s supposed to be an enjoyable, expressive sport?
Almost certainly not, no.