He is part of this generation of prodigies that makes the pride of French sport. Back on the success story of Kylian Mbappé, former star of PSG and rising player of Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappé, born in 1998 in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis, grew up in a family of athletes. His father, Wilfrid Mbappé, is a football coach of Cameroonian origin and his mother, Fayza Lamari, is a former handball player of Algerian origin. Surrounded by these athletes, Kylian Mbappé naturally turns to football. Very young, he stands out for his speed, his already sharp technique and great maturity. After training at AS Bondy, he joined the Institut National du Football de Clairefontaine, a hotbed of French talent, when he was 12 years old. Two years later, he joined the training center of Monaco and made his professional debut in 2015, becoming the youngest pro player in the history of the Rock.
An exceptional journey at PSG
His season in 2016/2017 makes him the new revelation of French football. The athlete scores 26 goals in all competitions, shines in the Champions League and becomes a Ligue 1 champion.
During the summer of 2017, he is transferred to Paris Saint-Germain. His contract, a loan with an option to purchase at 180 million euros, is talked about by the entire football sphere. « It’s a real pleasure to play for PSG, in my city, with my loved ones around » he had declared at the time. It is at this time that he begins to play with Neymar and Cavani. This golden trio excels and participates in the ever-rising fame of Mbappé. « Here, it’s not the PSG of Neymar or Messi. It’s the PSG. It is a club above individualities” he declared to Téléfoot in 2023, after the arrival of Lionel Messi.
At PSG, the player mixes speed, percussion, finishing and offensive intelligence. He wins six Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France, a Coupe de la Ligue and the Champions Trophy. Scoring more than 250 goals with the club (a record), he is named top scorer in Ligue 1 six times. He touches the Champions League in 2020, reaching the final but losing to Bayern Munich.
Captain of the French Team
In parallel with his career at PSG, he logically joined the France team at 18 years old. In 2018, the tricolor players mark the history of French football by winning the World Cup. Kylian Mbappé shines throughout the international tournament at only 19 years old. He scores a brace for example against Argentina in the 8th final and is a striker in the final against Croatia. On his seven games played, he scores four goals and sends an assist. He is distinguished for the title of best young player in the championship.
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After a rather disappointing Euro 2020 (the team being eliminated in 8th by Switzerland), he reached the final with France but lost on penalties at the 2022 World Cup. Kylian Mbappé still stands out with a memorable hat-trick against Argentina and is named Golden Shoe thanks to his eight goals. In 2023, he is appointed captain of the Blues.
A new life at Real Madrid
In 2024, the footballer decides not to renew his contract at PSG. He then realizes his dream: to play at Real Madrid, the club of his idol Zinedine Zidane. The pressure is ultra strong and everyone is waiting to see the performances of the French prodigy in the Spanish club. However, the criticisms do not delay to rain down. The player must however adapt to a new championship, La Liga, which is more tactical and defensive than Ligue 1, and must adjust his game according to the coach’s strategy. It’s a new context, a new club, a new environment. (…) At first, I was too hungry and it hurt me because I was impatient,’ he explained to Canal+ in late 2024.
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The difficulty is increased by the fact that the sportsman, central piece of PSG, arrives in a collective already well established with stars like Vinícius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo. The level goes up a notch and Kylian Mbappé must take his marks, while keeping his spirits high in the face of constant reproaches and comparisons. The player nevertheless remains mature and resilient : “It’s normal. People were waiting a lot, and it’s normal for us to talk. But I don’t take it personally. I knew everything would change. (…) One does not come to Madrid to play badly” he indicated at the press conference in January 2025.
The darling of brands
With his performances, his few expressions that flooded the internet with memes and the mastery of his image, Kylian Mbappé very quickly attracted brands. Nike, Hublot, Oakley, Boss… He is the face of several prestigious brands and is very close to Dior and Louis Vuitton, the jewels of LVMH.
But in addition to his charisma and career, Kylian Mbappé is applauded for his mentality and inspiring maturity. « I know that many young people look at me, not only for football, but also for what I represent. It pushes me to be responsible, to show that one can be ambitious while remaining humble and respectful” he said in 2023. A state of mind that marks him as a model for the young French sports generation.
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Featured photo : © Louis Vuitton
