At the tender age of 23, Kylian Mbappé has already etched his name into the annals of world football. He already boasts one World Cup in his trophy cabinet, having guided his country to ultimate glory in their 2018 campaign aged just 19, scoring four goals along the way.
Four years on, the young phenol from a small Parisian suburb has developed into a truly terrifying striker, racking up a tournament-best five goals in Qatar after just four games.
But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Mbappé, who told the New York Times earlier this year: ‘I want to be more than just the guy who shoots the ball and goes to his yacht and takes his money.’
He is renowned for his philanthropic endeavours, having launched his own foundation for disadvantaged youths in Paris and donated all of his national team match fees to charity, and refuses to endorse any brands associated with alcohol, gambling and fast food.
A philanthropist
Despite achieving sporting superstardom, Mbappé has not allowed the dizzying heights of fame to pull him away from his roots or his principles.
Upon arriving in France’s top flight, he made a point of taking on a number of charitable engagements; attending numerous fundraisers, visiting disadvantaged communities to play football with young kids and giving away considerable sums of money to help those in need.
He donated the entirety of his salary for France’s victorious World Cup campaign in 2018 – roughly £400,000 – to a children’s charity, telling TIME Magazine: ‘I did not need to be paid. I was there to defend the colours of the country.
‘I earn enough money – a lot of money. So I think it is important to help those who are in need. A lot of people are suffering… for people like us, giving a helping hand to people is not a big thing.’
To this day, he reportedly forgoes his France match fees.
In 2020, he set up charitable foundation Inspired by KM, which supports 98 disadvantaged children from a range of backgrounds through school until they begin working, and provides funding to give them access to a variety of extracurricular activities.
And as Mbappé has grown older, his guiding principles have become even more apparent.
He has been outspoken in his condemnation of vices like gambling, alcohol and fast food, choosing not to sign any sponsorship deals with companies involved in industries he deems harmful.
Mbappé got into a row with the French Football Federation (FFF) after he led a boycott of certain sponsors back in March as he did not want to be associated with particular brands.
The FFF struck a £7m deal with online sports betting company Betclic last year, with that contract running through until the 2026 World Cup, and also has ties with KFC, Uber Eats and Coca-Cola.
In Qatar, Mbappé has been deliberately hiding Budweiser’s name in his man of the match photographs to avoid promoting alcohol at the World Cup.
Shrewd bizman
He is also a shrewd businessman with a keen eye for fashion, having inked a sea of deftly curated partnerships with the likes of Nike, Electronic Arts, Hublot, Dior and Oakley – all while earning up to an eye-watering £1.2million a week from his club Paris Saint-Germain.
Yet despite his superstardom, he is still known to his teammates and friends as ‘Donatello’ – a moniker bestowed upon him by compatriot Presnel Kimpembe for his likeness to the relaxed, nerdy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
And although he signed with superagency WME Sports earlier this year, most of his footballing life has been guided by father Wilfried and mother Fayza – the latter of whom is by no means shy when it comes to discussions over her son’s career.
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Humble beginnings
Unnervingly, Mbappé was not even born when France last won their last World Cup without him in 1998.
Born to a Cameroonian father and Algerian mother, Mbappé is the product of immigration and grew up in the banlieues of Bondy, a small suburban commune located just six miles from the Parisian city centre.
Despite its proximity to the city centre, Bondy bears little resemblance to the grandeur and affluence of the Champs-Élysées.
It is part of the infamous Seine St Denis 93rd arrondissement – one of the France’s poorest neighbourhoods which over the years has earned a reputation for sky-high crime rates and violence. But football provides a select few talented and hardworking youngsters from the ’93’ a source of hope.
And it just so happened that Mbappé’s father Wilfried was a coach at local club AS Bondy, a team in the 10th tier of French football.
Knowing the opportunity that lay ahead of his son, Wilfried strapped a pair of football boots onto Kylian’s feet at age five and took him to his first training session.
Just four years later, Mbappé knew he was destined to be one of the world’s best and along with his family had elucidated a plan to get there, according to French football journalist Ronan Boscher.
Wilfried may have got Mbappé started on the football field, but his mother, Fayza Lamari, was a professional handball player who played for the French national team and had an intimate knowledge of the rigours of what goes on behind the scenes of top level sport.
Together, Mbappé’s parents doubled as agents and representatives for their son, helping him to negotiate deals and guide his development to the top flight of French football.
Even after Mbappé signed with superagency WME in June of this year, his parents still maintain an active role in his entourage, with mother Fayza remaining particularly outspoken in her pride for her son and her opinions on his career.
With outstanding talent, a fervent work rate and parents devoted to building his career, it should come as no surprise then that Mbappé has become one of the world’s best players.
‘It is better to target the moon. That way, if you fail, you get to the clouds,’ a teenage Mbappé once told interviewers.
It has not taken long for this footballing comet to soar.
A fashion mogul
Like many famous footballers, the French striker and Paris Saint-Germain player has become a well-known socialite after taking strides into the world of fashion.
Whether that be signing deals with Dior, teaming up with Swiss watchmaker Hublot or working as a global ambassador for eyewear brand Oakley, the 23-year-old is making a name for himself.
For months Mbappé has been romantically linked with a pair of high profile beauties, but there is no definitive answer on whether he is currently in a relationship and some fans are eager to know whether he is scoring off the pitch.
