As France revels in the success of the Paris Olympics, French football is grappling with a turbulent start to the new Ligue 1 season following Kylian Mbappé's departure to Real Madrid. This move, alongside previous exits of Lionel Messi and Neymar, leaves Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) without its star power, while the league itself is struggling with a disastrous broadcast rights situation.

The French league (LFP) recently secured a new domestic television deal with DAZN and beIN Sports for €500 million annually—a significant drop from the previous €624 million. This comes after the collapse of its long-term partnership with Canal Plus and an earlier debacle with Spanish company Mediapro, which fell through shortly after it began in 2020.

The crisis has exposed the league's financial vulnerabilities, with LFP President Vincent Labrune's ambitious goal of €1 billion in annual broadcast revenue now a distant hope. The new deal, seen as a last resort to ensure club stability, leaves Ligue 1 lagging further behind Europe's top leagues in terms of income.

Despite the turmoil, PSG remains the dominant force, although the absence of Mbappé—who scored 44 goals last season—raises questions about their competitive edge. While no major star has replaced Mbappé, PSG has invested in other talents like Portugal's João Neves and retains key players like Ousmane Dembélé and Randal Kolo Muani.

Elsewhere, Marseille, under new coach Roberto De Zerbi, hopes to challenge PSG's dominance, while Monaco and Lyon aim to build on last season's successes. However, financial woes continue to plague French football, as seen in Bordeaux's fall into receivership and relegation to the fourth tier.

As the season begins, the league’s future remains uncertain, marked by financial struggles, ownership issues, and the departure of its brightest stars.