Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

Edinson Cavani beats Zlatan Ibrahimovic's all-time PSG goal record

PARIS -- Edinson Cavani overtook Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Paris Saint-Germain's all-time top scorer after he netted his 157th goal for the club at home to Montpellier on Saturday.

The Uruguay international, who arrived at Parc des Princes from Napoli for around €64 million in 2013, set the new record tally with the hosts' opening goal 11 minutes in.

Captain Thiago Silva, Neymar and Adrien Rabiot all combined in the build-up but it was the France international who laid Cavani's record-breaking strike on a plate for the man known as El Matador.

Cavani, 30, was booked by referee Frank Schneider for taking his shirt off in celebration at setting a new benchmark tally in his 229th appearance across all competitions. However, Schneider did shake the striker's hand after showing him the yellow card.

Speaking after receiving a commemorative trophy at Parc des Princes postmatch, Cavani praised the capital club, his teammates and the fans.

"Writing my name into history with this club, this team and these supporters, it is magnificent," El Matador told Canal+. "Sincerely, I am very happy to have scored here.

"I hope to continue and to be able to give even more to PSG. This common love with the fans is truly a thing of beauty -- it moves me.

"We must make the most of it. It is not often in life that you receive this much affection. I am pleased to be here. I hope that I will stay for many more years."

Ibrahimovic, who joined Manchester United on a free transfer back in 2016 after four years with PSG, set the previous record of 156 goals from just 180 outings with Les Parisiens.

Thomas Meunier, who set up Di Maria to make it 3-0, praised his teammate and said he was happy that he now possesses the record.

"I was hoping that he would take his chance here, his chance to join a closed circle of players with that world-class reputation," the Belgium international said. "He is among the best. I am proud and honoured to have contributed a little towards his record.

"A party? I do not know -- I will be with my family but he probably will celebrate!"

Adrien Rabiot, who provided the assist for Cavani's record-breaking strike was equally delighted for PSG's No. 9.

"We are really very happy for Edinson," said the France international. "It has been on the cards for a while and we knew that it would come.

"I told him before the match that he would do it here. I am delighted that he has reached this point.

"People really love him. He deserves that -- he is a really good guy and I am very, very happy for him."

In an act of further generosity against Montpellier on Saturday, Cavani handed Neymar the ball in order for the Brazilian superstar to take the penalty that made it 2-0 before half-time.

Spot-kicks have been a contentious issue between the pair since the former Barcelona man's arrival last summer, but the No. 9 left this one to the No. 10 for PSG's 2,000th goal at Parc des Princes.

About his decision to let Neymar shoot, Cavani said: "Life is like that -- sometimes it is better to give than to take."

Cavani scored 35 goals from 36 Ligue 1 appearances alone last season and already has 21 from 22 this as he chases another record -- this time a 40-goal haul in Le Championnat, which has not been seen since Josip Skoblar's 44 for Marseille in 1970-71.

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