Kylian Mbappé is a French professional football player, best known for his performance in the 2018 ‘FIFA World Cup.’ Mbappé became the youngest French to score a goal in a ‘World Cup.’ He finished his ‘World Cup’ campaign with four goals for which he was honored with the ‘FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award.’ Former player Arsène Wenger has described him as a ‘huge football talent.’ The media has often compared him with the likes of Thierry Henry and Pelé. Known for his excellent dribbling skills, Mbappé is also famous for his agility, creativity, and acceleration when in possession of the ball. In 2017, Mbappé became the second-most expensive player in the world as he signed a €180 million contract with the French football club ‘Paris Saint-Germain.’
Kylian Mbappé Lottin was born on December 20, 1998, in Bondy, Paris, France, to Wilfried Mbappé and Fayza Lamari. He is of mixed ethnicity as his father is of Cameroonian origin, while his mother, a former handball player, is of Algerian origin.
Coached by Antonio Riccardi and his father Wilfried, Mbappé started playing football at âAS Bondyâ when he was six years old. He then moved to the national football center âClairefontaineâ which specializes in training young French players.
Mbappéâs impressive performance at âClairefontaineâ caught the attention of world-renowned clubs like âReal Madrid,â âManchester City,â âBayern Munich,â and âLiverpool.â He even travelled to London when he was just 11 years old to play for Chelseaâs youth team in a game against âCharlton Athletic.â He eventually chose to play for âAS Monaco FCâ which competes in the popular French football league, âLigue 1.â
Mbappé made his debut on December 2, 2015, when he played for âMonacoâ in a âLigue 1â game against âSM Caen.â By making his debut at the age of 16, he broke Thierry Henryâs record and became Monacoâs youngest-ever first-team player. He scored his first goal on February 20, 2016, becoming the youngest goal-scorer for âMonaco.â On March 6, Mbappé signed a three-year contract with âMonaco.â
On December 14, 2016, he scored his first hat-trick for Monacoâs first team in a game against âStade Rennaisâ in the âCoupe de la Ligue.â On February 11, 2017, he scored his first hat-trick in âLigue 1,â helping his team win against âFootball Club de Metz.â He became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in âLigue 1â since Jérémy Ménez in 2005.
On February 21, he became the second youngest French football player to score a goal in âUEFA Champions League.â On March 5, he scored two goals to help his team win against âFC Nantes.â On March 11, he scored a goal against âFC Girondins de Bordeaux,â securing a 2â"1 win for âMonaco.â
On March 15, he helped âMonacoâ advance to the quarter-finals in the âUEFA Champions League.â He then scored a goal in the second leg of the tournament, helping his team advance to the semi-finals. âMonacoâ was eventually eliminated from âUEFA Champions Leagueâ by âJuventus.â However, his team won the âLigue 1â title as Mbappé ended the season with 26 goals.
On August 31, âParis Saint-Germainâ announced that it had signed Mbappé on loan. He made his debut for âParis Saint-Germainâ on September 8 and scored a goal to help his team win against âMetz.â On December 6, he became the youngest player to score his tenth âChampions Leagueâ goal when he scored against âBayern Munich.â
On May 17, 2018, Mbappé was named in the national squad for the 2018 âFIFA World Cup.â He scored his first âWorld Cupâ goal on June 21, helping France beat Peru in the âGroup Câ match. On June 30, he won the âman of the matchâ award for helping France secure a win against Argentina. During the game, he became the second teenager after the legendary Pelé to score twice in a âWorld Cupâ match.
On July 15, he scored a goal against Croatia in the âWorld Cup Finalâ to help France win the prestigious tournament. He also became the second teenager to score a goal in a âWorld Cup Final.â For his extraordinary performance throughout the âWorld Cup,â Mbappé won the âBest Young Player Award.â
On September 1, 2018, he was sent off the field in a game against âNîmes Olympiqueâ as he was given a red card for the first time in his career. On October 8, he scored four goals against âOlympique Lyonnais,â becoming the youngest player to score four goals in a âLigue 1â game.
For his impressive performance in the 2016â"17 season, the âNational Union of Professional Footballersâ (UNFP) honored him with the âLigue 1 Young Player of the Yearâ award. He won the award again in the subsequent season.
In 2017, he won the âGolden Boyâ award which is given annually by sports journalists. In the same year, he was recognized by the âUnion of European Football Associationsâ (UEFA) as the eighth-best player in the world. In April 2017, he was honored with the âUNFP Player of the Monthâ trophy. He won the same trophy in March and August 2018.
In 2018, he was recognized as the fourth-best player in the world by the âFédération Internationale de Football Associationâ (FIFA). Thanks to his impressive performance in the âWorld Cup,â he was included in the âFIFA World Cup Dream Teamâ and the âIFFHS Menâs World Team.â He won the âKopa Trophy,â which is given to the best player under the age of 21. He also won the âFrench Player of the Yearâ award (2018).
Kylian Mbappé has an older brother named Jirès Kembo Ekoko. Ekoko, a professional football player, was adopted by Mbappéâs father when he was young. Mbappé also has a younger brother named Ethan Mbappé. Ethan, who has represented the under-12 âParis Saint-Germainâ team, was Mbappéâs mascot in one of the âChampions Leagueâ games.
Mbappéâs style of celebrating his goals was inspired by Ethan. In one of his interviews, he revealed that his younger brother would celebrate in a similar fashion after beating him in EA Sports' âFIFAâ video game.
Mbappé has been involved in philanthropic activities. On February 22, 2018, he met âFIFAâ president Gianni Infantino and French President Emmanuel Macron along with the Liberia President George Weah and former professional football player Didier Drogba. The meeting, which was held at the âÃlysée Palaceâ in Paris, was about a sports development project in the African continent. In an interview, Mbappé mentioned about his fatherâs African origins and said the development of sports in Africa is important to him.