Kylian Mbappe pays homage to Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring Ligue 1 hat trick for PSG

Kylian Mbappe showcased his brilliance with a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain dominated Montpellier, extending their lead at the top of the French Ligue 1 table to 12 points.

he France national captain opened the scoring for the Parisians in the 22nd minute and continued his onslaught with two more goals in the second half of the topflight encounter.

His third goal, a trademark half-volley after a dazzling run and quick thinking from teammate, Lee Kang-in, marked his 250th goal for PSG across all competitions since his arrival in August 2017.

Mbappe's goal-scoring form and PSG troubles

With this performance, the Frenchman now boasts 24 league goals for the season, securing his third hat-trick of the campaign, per Transfermarkt.

However, Mbappe's recent outings have been unconventional.

The newest Kylian Mbappé hat trick. Enjoy. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/7mzdxDDIOE

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 17, 2024

He found himself on the bench for two of PSG's last three league matches and was substituted at half-time against Monaco, where he watched the remainder of the match alongside his mother in the stands.

This decision came amid the anticipation of his departure at the end of the season, as well as an expected announcement of a rumoured blockbuster move to Real Madrid, as reported by the BBC.

Mbappe pays tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite the off-field drama, the 25-year-old's on-field brilliance has remained undiminished.

His hat-trick against Montpellier brings him closer to reaching the milestone of 40 goals for the season.

Mbappe's celebration after his third goal paid homage to his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.

After completing his ninth career hat-trick, the 2018 World Cup winner executed a celebration reminiscent of Ronaldo's iconic pose.

????Mbappe doing Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic celebration ???? pic.twitter.com/yZdzc5UaDI

— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) March 17, 2024