In a landmark ruling for player rights, the Conseil de prud'hommes de Paris (the French labor court) has officially ruled in favor of Kylian Mbappé today, December 16, 2025.
The court ordered Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to pay the Real Madrid star a total of €61 million ($70.6 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses. This verdict brings a major legal victory to the Frenchman after 18 months of public and judicial disputes with his former club.
Breakdown of the Ruling
The tribunal found that PSG had no legal standing to withhold payments from the final months of Mbappé’s
contract in 2024. The €61 million total is comprised of:
Unpaid Salaries: Full wages for April, May, and June 2024.
Signing Bonus: The final installment of his massive 2022 renewal bonus.
Ethics Bonus: Contractual payments tied to professional conduct, which the club had attempted to void.
Holiday Pay: Approximately €6 million in accrued leave and statutory payments.
Key Legal Wins and Losses
While Mbappé secured the core of his financial claim, the court did not grant every request made by his legal team:
Winning Claims,Dismissed Claims
Unpaid Salary & Bonuses: Court ruled these are mandatory under labor law.,Moral Harassment: The court dismissed allegations of workplace bullying.
"Contractual Integrity: PSG's ""gentleman's agreement"" was ruled invalid without a written waiver.",
"Contract Reclassification: Mbappé's attempt to reclassify his deal as ""permanent"" (to claim unfair dismissal) was rejected."
PSG's Counterclaim: The club's demand for €440 million in damages was completely thrown out.,
Employer Safety: Claims regarding a breach of safety duty were not upheld.
The Aftermath: "Labour Law Applies to Everyone"
Mbappé’s legal team released a statement following the verdict, calling it a restoration of a "simple truth":
"Even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone... Mr. Mbappé scrupulously respected his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years, right up to the final day."
PSG’s Response: The club acknowledged the judgment and stated they would comply with the immediate payment, though they have pointedly reserved the right to appeal. PSG maintains they acted in "good faith" regarding an alleged oral agreement Mbappé made to waive certain bonuses if he left on a free transfer.
Impact on the 2025 Awards
This legal victory caps off an extraordinary 24 hours for Mbappé. Though he finished as a finalist behind teammate Ousmane Dembélé for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award tonight, he was still named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI for the 2024/25 season.
Would you like me to find out the specific deadline PSG has to file their appeal, or would you prefer a look at Mbappé's current form at Real Madrid?