Everything you need to know about the gifted, 17-year-old forward who recently signed his first professional contract in the French capital
Whether or not Paris Saint-Germain finally realise their Champions League dream in Munich at the end of the month, it's already clear that coach Luis Enrique is in possession of a squad stacked with talent – particularly in attack.
Indeed, it's hard to think of another team blessed with so many wonderful wingers. With his rolled-down socks and devastating dribbling skills, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a glorious throwback to a bygone age, Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembele is finally realising his full potential at Parc des Princes after his abysmal spell with Barcelona, while Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have shown this season why they've long been regarded as potential superstars within French footballing circles.
It, thus, feels borderline unfair that PSG have another incredibly exciting prospect on their hands in Ibrahim Mbaye, a record-breaking teenager so gifted that he actually has a real shot of becoming a regular in Luis Enrique's stellar starting line-up in the next couple of seasons…
Where it began
Mbaye was born in the Parisian suburb of Trappes – coincidentally, the hometown of former PSG striker Nicolas Anelka – and, as a kid, he was more interested in basketball than football. However, his father got him interested in 'The Beautiful Game' with YouTube videos and Mbaye started playing organised football at the age of five, with Guyancourt, before later joining FC Versailles.
It wasn't long, though, before PSG took notice of Mbaye's obvious potential and they snapped him up when he was still only 10. From there he progressed rapidly through the PSG youth sector and broke into the Under-19s squad at just 16 before going on to help them win last season's Championnat National with a goal in the play-off semi-final victory over Marseille and an assist in the tournament-decider against Auxerre.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
Unsurprisingly, Luis Enrique took notice of PSG's child prodigy and included Mbaye in his pre-season squad. The youngster immediately made his mark, scoring the opener in the 2-2 draw with Sturm Graz on August 7.
Mbaye impressed again against RB Leipzig three days later, so much so, in fact, that Luis Enrique picked him to play in PSG's Ligue 1 opener against Le Havre.
"I'm entering into the history of the club," Mbaye told his team's media channel after becoming the youngest player ever to start a competitive game for PSG, at 16 years and 205 days old. "It's incredible. You have to work hard to get to this level. It's certainly a change to what I'm used to. There's a huge intensity, it's really something else."
AFPHow it's going
In total, Mbaye featured in five of PSG's first eight Ligue 1 fixtures, before shining for the U19s in the latter stages of their UEFA Youth League campaign. He was then brought back into the senior squad set-up in March and scored his first goal in the professional ranks during the 6-1 rout of Saint-Etienne at the end of the month.
"I'm very happy," he said after becoming PSG's third-youngest goal-scorer, behind only Warren Zaire-Emery and Bartholomew Ogbeche. "I hope it continues for a long time and that I score more in other matches. It's a reward for all the hard work I've put in so far, and I'm going to keep on working and hope to score even more goals."
Mbaye has also played all 90 minutes of the PSG's last two league games, against Strasbourg and Montpellier, meaning it's highly likely that he'll be on the bench for the Champions League final against Inter on May 31.
Biggest strengths
Mbaye is a thrillingly direct winger who is always looking to take on players and beat them with his quick feet and blistering turn of pace. He's also extremely versatile; although he prefers playing on the left wing, as it allows him to cut inside onto his favoured right foot, he's actually spent a lot of time playing on the opposite flank.
At Parc des Princes, there's also a feeling that Mbaye might develop into a very mobile centre-forward, in much the same way Dembele has over the past year or so. Luis Enrique has not yet commented on the teenager's best role, but he has been fulsome in his praise of not only Mbaye's game – but also his attitude.
"He plays with very good rhythm with and without the ball, has a lot of qualities and is very intelligent," the former Barcelona boss told reporters. "I love it when he trains with us and he's always ready to help us."
