Kylian Mbappe was replaced at half-time and watched the second half with his mother in the stands as Paris St-Germain drew at his former club Monaco.
Mbappe, PSG's all-time top scorer with 244 goals, has agreed a deal to join Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Boss Luis Enrique replaced him with Randal Kolo Muani at half-time.
"It was 100% the coach's decision, because sooner or later we will have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappe," Luis Enrique said.
"I took this decision for the good of the team."
Mbappe, 25, changed into a tracksuit and spoke on his phone in the tunnel before joining his family in the crowd instead of his team-mates on the bench.
PSG visit Real Sociedad in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday.
The champions are 12 points clear of Brest at the top of Ligue 1, with Monaco another point back in third.
BBC