Mbappe scores after Messi misses penalty as PSG beat Real Madrid in Champions League

French striker's last-gasp winner saves blushes of Argentine superstar

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain scores their winning goal against Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash in Paris on February 15, 2022. Getty

Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates his winner against Real. Reuters

Paris St-Germain's Lionel Messi reacts after a missing a penalty against Real Madrid. Getty

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois celebrates with teammates after saving a penalty from PSG's Lionel Messi. AP

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves from Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe during their Champions League Last 16 first leg clash in Paris. AFP

Real Madrid's Luka Modric outpaces PSG’s Marco Verratti. EPA

Angel di Maria of PSG takes on Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. EPA

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino and Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti patrol the touchline. EPA

Luka Modric of Real Madrid is challenged by Marco Verratti of PSG. Getty

PSG's Lionel Messi is fouled by Real Madrid's Casemiro. AP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe battles with Real Madrid's Spanish defender Dani Carvajal. AFP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe is tackled by Dani Carvajal. AFP

Kylian Mbappe battles with Real's Spanish Dani Carvajal. AFP

PSG's Nuno Mendes in action with Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio. Reuters

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema tries to break free from Real's Marquinhos. Reuters

PSG's Marco Verratti, left, slides in on Real Madrid's Eder Militao. AP

Real's Eder Militao duels with PSG's Marco Verratti. AP

Lionel Messi of PSG is challenged by Toni Kroos of Real Madrid. Getty

Kylian Mbappe of PSG shoots. Getty

Real Madrid's Casemiro heads clear. Reuters

PSG's Lionel Messi fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Toni Kroos. AFP

Italian referee Daniele Orsato shows a yellow card to PSG's Marco Verratti. AFP

Real Madrid's Casemiro and PSG's Leandro Paredes square up. AFP

Kylian Mbappe saved his team again, scoring a brilliant solo goal deep into injury time as Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match on Tuesday.

Mbappe has rescued PSG many times with late goals in the French league this season — as recently as last Friday — and he did so again on the biggest stage.

After taking a back-heeled pass from substitute Neymar in the fourth and final minute of injury time, Mbappe cut inside two players down the left and shot the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois had the starring role until then, denying Mbappe early in each half and then stopping record seven-time Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi’s penalty in the 61st minute. It was awarded after Mbappe was fouled by right-back Dani Carvajal.

Courtois guessed correctly and dived to his left for a fine stop.

Messi scored 26 goals and delivered 14 assists in 45 games against Madrid during his glory era with Barcelona, but did not find the net in several games before joining PSG last summer.

PSG threw on Neymar for the last 20 minutes as the Brazil superstar made his return from a sprained ankle, while Madrid’s star forward Karim Benzema shook off a hamstring injury and faced former club rival Messi and France teammate Mbappe.

Mbappe is out of contract at the end of the season and remains heavily linked with a move to Madrid, who had an offer of €180 million ($204m) rejected by PSG last summer.

Now the Spanish giants might get arguably the world’s most dangerous striker for free.

The subplots were in place but the first half did not live up to the hype, save for a few flashes of skill from Mbappe.

His fifth-minute cross from the left was blazed over by Angel Di Maria.

The elusive Mbappe kept getting behind the defence down the left and in the 17th minute he latched on to Messi’s pass but Courtois saved smartly from close range.

The second half started better as Courtois produced a superb one-handed save low to his right to deny Mbappe, who was set up by right-back Achraf Hakimi’s astute quick pass.

PSG have never won the Champions League while record 13-time winners Madrid have not reached the final since completing a straight hat-trick of European Cups in 2018.

Carlo Ancelotti faced the side he once coached, hired near the start of the club’s Qatari-backed takeover as the big name to achieve Champions League glory.

This is the first season in 57 years that the away-goals rule is not being used.

Somewhat unlucky, then, for Manchester City as last season’s runners-up won 5-0 at Portuguese club Sporting.

The return legs are on March 9, but Madrid midfielder Casemiro is suspended after picking up a yellow card late in the first half.