Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the final of the newly formatted Coupe Intercontinentale (formerly known as the FIFA Club World Cup) against Pachuca on December 18, 2024.
The match took place in Doha, Qatar, at the Lusail Stadium, the same venue where France faced Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.
Mbappé, who had been dealing with a thigh injury from a previous match against Atalanta Bergame, managed to play and start in the lineup despite concerns about his fitness. His return to the pitch was eagerly anticipated, especially since this was his first appearance back in the Lusail Stadium since the World Cup final defeat.
In this game, Mbappé's goal was not only crucial for the scoreline but also symbolically significant, given the setting and his personal history at the venue. His performance was part of a broader narrative where he aimed to erase the memory of the 2022 World Cup final loss by achieving success with Real Madrid in this international club competition.
For the specifics of his goal:
Match Context: The game was a high-stakes encounter, with Real Madrid looking to add another trophy to their cabinet and Pachuca aiming for a historic upset.
The Goal: Mbappé scored early in the match, setting the tone for Real Madrid's dominance. His ability to find the back of the net despite being closely marked underlined his status as one of the world's top strikers.
This goal marked Mbappé's continued impact at Real Madrid, where he had already started making his mark in his first season, including winning the UEFA Super Cup earlier in the year. The match against Pachuca was a showcase of his resilience and skill, especially after recovering from his recent injury.
Note that the Coupe Intercontinentale is now distinct from the expanded FIFA Club World Cup planned for 2025, but this event maintained the spirit of the competition where continental champions face off.