Mbappe scores a birthday brace as PSG finishes the year on top of Ligue 1

PSG struggled in the first half after being held 1-1 at Lille the previous weekend before Vitinha opened the scoring early in the second half by turning in a cross from Lee Kang-in.

Mbappe then took center stage, making it 2-0 with a brilliant strike off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the area.

For the struggling visitors, Matthieu Udol pulled one back, but Mbappe pounced on a short backpass to round the goalkeeper and make it 3-1 near the end for his 18th league goal of the season.

His 16-year-old brother Ethan made his senior debut in stoppage time, making his birthday even more memorable.

PSG finishes the year with a five-point lead over Nice, who defeated Lens 2-0 on Wednesday thanks to two late goals from Nigerian striker Terem Moffi.

Monaco moved into third place, seven points behind the leaders, after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Toulouse, with Wissam Ben Yedder scoring both goals.

Despite having Aleksandr Golovin sent off early in the second half, the principality side held on to take all three points.

Malian international Kamory Doumbia had the evening’s best individual performance, scoring four goals, all in the first half, as Brest defeated Brittany rivals Lorient 4-0.

Brest moved up to fourth place, a Champions League qualifying spot, ahead of Lille, who were defeated 2-1 away at Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg.