Kylian Mbappé has experienced some of football’s biggest stages, from the Estadio Bernabéu to the World Cup. But when German YouTuber Fiago asked him in a 2026 interview to name the three best atmospheres he had experienced, a ground in north-east England was among his choices.
It wasn't a league fixture, and he wasn't on the winning side. The night he picked is a match Newcastle United fans still bring up, but his inclusion of the night among his three favourite atmospheres is what makes the choice particularly interesting.
Where Mbappé Ranked St James' Park, and Which Night He Meant
Mbappé was asked by social media personality Fiago to name the three best atmospheres he had experienced at a football match. He placed Newcastle third, behind the Bernabéu in first and Yekaterinburg Arena in second.
The list refers to individual matchday experiences, making Newcastle's inclusion particularly notable.
The occasion was Newcastle's first Champions League home match in 20 years, a 4-1 win over PSG on 4 October 2023. Mbappé described the atmosphere as "insane", recalling Newcastle's return to home Champions League football.
The interview was released in June 2026.
What Happened at St James' Park on 4 October 2023
Miguel Almirón and Dan Burn gave Newcastle a 2-0 half-time lead, with Burn's goal awarded after a lengthy VAR review. Sean Longstaff made it 3-0 five minutes after half-time. Lucas Hernández pulled one back before Fabian Schär scored Newcastle's fourth in stoppage time.
With 52,009 in attendance on the night, the home crowd were heard cheering every tackle in the wet conditions. Mbappé had little impact as Newcastle overpowered PSG, leaving him on the losing side despite later naming the atmosphere among his favourites.
The day before the game, PSG coach Luis Enrique described the atmosphere at St James' Park as "hostile but unrivalled" and called the stadium "a spectacular place to come and play."
PSG knew what awaited them before kick-off. The two sides met again in Paris on 28 November 2023. Alexander Isak scored in the 24th minute, while Mbappé's penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time rescued a 1-1 draw after a VAR review for handball.
How the Other Two Picks Compare
Mbappé's second choice was France's 2018 World Cup group-stage match against Peru. He said he felt as if the game was being played in Peru.
Mbappé scored the only goal in the 34th minute, while Peruvian fans outnumbered the French supporters at the stadium by a large margin. His first choice, the Bernabéu, is the home stadium of the club he played for when he gave the interview.
He described a great night there as "something amazing." Newcastle's place in the top three came from the atmosphere at that one match.
