Barely ten days earlier, his last gesture in competition was a shot on goal, successful against Emiliano Martinez, without preventing France's defeat in the World Cup final against Argentina (3-3, 4 pens to 2 ), where "Kyky" nevertheless scored a hat-trick, a volley and two penalties.

He still managed one against Mat Sels (90th + 6), which he himself had obtained, touched by Gerzino Nyamsi.

Throughout the match, Kylian Mbappé tried everything to pass off the bad taste of this historic hat-trick for nothing.

The Belgian Alsatian goalkeeper stopped everything for a long time against the 2022 vice-world champion, two parades "à la Neuer" face-to-face (25th, 54th).

But the top scorer of the World Cup had the last word, and received a huge ovation.

Neymar ruled out

He had already been welcomed like a king by the Parc des Princes, applauded when his name was announced, and honored with a banner: "Top scorer of the CDM pure Parisian product. The champion is you."

The Parisian Neymar (g) in front of the Strasbourgeois Alexander Djiku, December 28, 2022 at the Parc des Princes © JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP

"At the World Cup, the stars were Parisians," said another banner, while awaiting the return of the new world champion, Lionel Messi, expected at the beginning of January at Camp des Loges.

Another of these stars also dried her tears from Qatar.

Brazilian captain Marquinhos went through all the emotions: scorer (14th), scorer against his side (51st) as in the cursed quarter-final against Croatia, and finally decisive on the action of the winning goal.

"Marqui" even believed to sign the deliverance himself, but the goal was canceled because the referee had whistled the foul on Mbappé a moment before.

Only Neymar missed his redemption.

Returning "psychologically destroyed" from the World Cup-2022, in his own words, Neymar was stupidly excluded in one minute by Clément Turpin, who also returned from Qatar.

After a first yellow for a hand in the face of Thomasson (61st), "Ney" dove into the surface on the next action and saw red for simulation (62nd).

Marquinhos dries his tears

On the action, the Strasbourg captain Alexandre Djiku, also adventure in the desert, but eliminated him in the first round with Ghana, holds his foot and does not touch the Brazilian.

Everything had however started well for the Brazilians of PSG, released in the quarter by Croatia (1-1, 4 tab to 2).

The Parisian Marco Verratti (g) in the fight with the Strasbourgeois Adrien Thomasson, December 28, 2022 at the Parc des Princes © JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP

They brought the first goal, a superb free kick from Neymar deposited on the head of Marquinhos (14th).

But Qatar's nightmares came back to haunt "Marqui", who deflected a shot from Adrien Thomasson (51st) into his own goal.

The real culprit on the action remains Marco Verratti, who was not at the World Cup.

The Italian offered this goal ball to the Strasbourg N.10 with an inconsiderate back pass.

Alongside his cleats throughout the match, the "Little Owl" celebrated his two-year contract extension, until 2026, badly, announced on the microphone by the announcer of the Parc des Princes before kick-off.

Verratti, for more than ten years at the club, should break the record for matches played for PSG, held by Jean-Marc Pilorget (435).

The Italian midfielder played his 399th against Strasbourg, but he lost more balls in one evening than since the start of the season...

Speaking of the future, the young left-back El Chadaille Bitshiabu (17) played a good first start, after ten somewhat stammering initial minutes (stress!).

The Parisian "titi" came out to loud applause from the Park.

The evening ends well for PSG, which is eight points ahead of Lens (2nd), expected in Nice on Thursday (9:00 p.m.).

And the hearts are a little less heavy.

© 2022 AFP