Kylian Mbappe was born in a humble town: Mbappe was born on December 20, 1998, in Bondy, a modest town near the magnificent capital, Paris. Bondy has become known as a breeding ground for football stars, and Mbappe’s Cameroonian-Algerian heritage adds to his unique background.
Soccer runs in the family: Mbappe’s father is a youth soccer coach and now acts as his agent, while his mother was a former handball player. They have been a strong support system for the young player throughout his career.
Born five months after France won the 1998 World Cup: Mbappe has always held a special respect for French hero Zinedine Zidane and the French national team.
A special connection with Gianluigi Buffon: Five months before Mbappe was born, Gianluigi Buffon represented Italy in the World Cup. However, in May 2017, the two encountered each other in the Champions League semi-finals.
A standout player from a youg age: Mbappe’s exceptional talent was recognized by the French Football Federation when he was only six years old. He consistently outperformed his peers, making them both jealous and feаrful of his abilities.
Courtship from famous clubs: Mbappe attracted interest from renowned clubs early on in his career. At just 17 years old, he was invited by Chelsea to Stamford Bridge to sign a contract. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had been eager to secure Mbappe since he was nine years old, and both Manchester United and Manchester City were also interested. Even Arsenal’s former coach, Arsène Wenger, visited Mbappe’s home in an attempt to sign him.
Dubbed the new ‘Thierry Henry’: Mbappe earned comparisons to the legendary French forward Thierry Henry due to his scoring prowess. He became Monaco’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and 347 days, breаking a record set by Henry 21 years prior.
Social media sensation: Despite being only 19 years old at the time, Mbappe had already amassed over 1.5 million followers on Instagram.
A tennis enthusiast: In addition to his passion for football, Mbappe is a big fan of tennis, with fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga being his favorite tennis player.
Setting numerous records: Mbappe has continuously broken records in European football. Some of his notable achievements include being the youngest player to score a brace in the knockout round (18 years and 113 days), scoring five goals (18 years and 120 days), and scoring in the semi-finals (18 years and 140 days).
The second most expensive player in football history: In the summer of 2017, PSG spent €180 million to acquire Mbappe from Monaco, making him the second most expensive player in the history of football.
Embracing a simple lifestyle: Despite his success, Mbappe leads a modest and grounded lifestyle. He resides in a humble house with his family and divides his time between there and the Monaco “Louis II” academy dormitory.
Meeting football legends: Mbappe had the opportunity to meet and take photos with Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo when he was just a child.
Honored with Zinedine Zidane’s number 10 shirt: Recognized as a talented young player in French football, Mbappe was given Zinedine Zidane’s iconic number 10 shirt by the French Football Federation (FFF), paying homage to his childhood idol.