Paris, France - A clash of the titans, a touch of magic from some of the world's best soccer players, and some last-minute drama that gave PSG a dramatic 1-0 win over Real Madrid – the Champions League is well and truly back!

It did take its sweet time, though, at least in the first half of this latest installment of an epic battle between the old money and the new.

There's no shortage of subplots in a saga that will run and run for years to come, but it was impossible not to get all caught up in the sheer amount of talent on display in this last 16 tie. Messi, Benzema, Vinicius Jr., Neymar (who started on the bench), and of course Kylian Mbappé – an all-star game with an edge.

The comedown was all the more jarring, then, as the Parc des Princes got lulled into a murmur during 45 minutes when nothing seemed to come off for any of these huge names. Sure, Kylian Mbappé left Dani Carvajal coughing in a plume of smoke at the start and crossed for Angel Di Maria to blast wildly over, but that was only a sign of things to come much later.

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In fact, the game registered a single shot on target before halftime: Mbappé squeezed a shot into Thibaut Courtois' feet after Lionel Messi's ball over the top of the PSG defense – his only notable contribution before the break.

All in all, the French champions huffed and puffed to little effect, while Madrid barely managed to cross the halfway line.

Words were had in the locker rooms, no doubt, because both sets of players came out noticeably pumped for the second half.

PSG's speed of passing increased and Madrid's off-the-ball work had to adapt accordingly. It only took five minutes for this new approach to create a big chance for Mbappé, who took a strong shot from the edge of the box after some quick combination play. Courtois was down to his right in a flash to save, though.

Messi was suddenly looking more like himself, too. The Argentine saw a lot of the ball in the buildup to what looked like the crucial turning point. With an hour gone, Carvajal got torched by Mbappé again, only this time the right back dived into a desperate challenge and gave away a clear-cut penalty.

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There was only ever going to be on man taking it. But Messi's season with PSG isn't necessarily going to plan, and a poor take added yet more fodder to that narrative. Courtois parried and a huge opportunity disappeared over the horizon.

Not long after that, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino decided to go for broke. Neymar hadn't played since November of last year and wasn't deemed fit enough to start, but on he came with 20 minutes to go – and boy, did that decision prove to be decisive.

It wasn't just the obvious boost the Brazilian gave his teammates. Nor just the slick exchanges with Messi, who picked himself up after that disappointing moment. It was his ability to produce sparks of brilliance with the clock ticking down into the seconds.

A cute back heel from Neymar is what started it. A declaration of intent from Mbappé is what finished it. With less than a minute to go, he announced himself yet again – as if it was needed – as the prime contender for the title of the world's best. With searing speed and perfect control, he burst through the Madrid defense to score his 22nd goal of the season, sending the Parisian stadium wild.

After all that buildup, it was the kind of high drama this matchup deserved. And to have this 23-year-old wonder as its protagonist felt more than right.