Biography of Kylian Mbappé: The Rise of a Football Prodigy and Global Icon
Kylian Mbappé is one of the biggest rising stars in world football. At just 24 years old, he has already achieved incredible success playing for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. His blistering pace, phenomenal dribbling skills, lethal finishing, and mature beyond his years have marked him as a generational talent.
His young career has been record-breaking and trophy-laden. Mbappé already boasts four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France triumphs, and a World Cup winner’s medal in 2018 when he exploded onto the global stage as a 19-year-old phenom.
This article will serve as a biography exploring Mbappé’s background, his rapid rise at AS Monaco, blockbuster transfer to PSG, individual and team honors, global stardom, playing style and abilities, and outlook for his future career.
Where is Kylian Mbappé from?
Kylian Mbappé Lottin was born on December 20, 1998, in Paris, France. He grew up in the Parisian suburb of Bondy in a football-loving family. His father Wilfried was a coach at AS Bondy and his mother Fayza was a professional handball player.
Mbappé first started playing organized football for AS Bondy when he was just six years old. He has mentioned in interviews that both his parents played an influential role in his early development – his father pushed him intensely on the training pitch while his mother taught him about football intelligence and movement.
By his early teens, Mbappé was already turning heads as he rapidly rose through the youth ranks both for his local side and the French national youth teams.
The Early Club Career of Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé signed his first professional contract with AS Monaco in 2015 at just 16 years old after impressing scouts with Bondy and national youth sides. Then-manager Leonardo Jardim immediately promoted him to Monaco’s first-team squad where he continued his development alongside world class players and upcoming stars like Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar, Tiemoué Bakayoko, and Fabinho.
The young prodigy made his first-team debut for Monaco on December 2, 2015 as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw with SM Caen in a League Cup match. He mostly featured for the reserves during his first season but graced the pitch during Monaco’s improbable run to the Champions League semi-finals.
| Season | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Honors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 8 | 0 | 1 | None |
| 2016-17 | 44 | 26 | 14 | Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue |
Table 1: Kylian Mbappé’s statistics during his seasons at AS Monaco
Mbappé had his breakout for Monaco during the historic 2016-17 season when he established himself as a world-class player at just 18 years old. He led Monaco’s thrilling young attack along with players like Radamel Falcao and Bernardo Silva in an improbable Ligue 1 title victory over defending champions PSG.
Mbappé made his first France national team appearance in March 2017 and became the youngest French player to score an international goal at age 18. His outstanding performances saw him named as the Ligue 1 Best Young Player, Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and Golden Boy as Europe’s best U21 player.
Paris Saint-Germain (2017-Present)
In the summer of 2017, Mbappé signed for rivals Paris Saint-Germain in an initial one-year loan deal that made him the second-most expensive teenager ever behind his new teammate Neymar. PSG’s Qatari owners then signed him permanently for €180 million euros after his loan, making him the world’s most expensive teenager in history.
Still just 19 years old, Mbappé continued his upwards career trajectory at his hometown club. He adapted seamlessly to life at the French superpower, forming a dynamic attacking trio with Neymar and Edinson Cavani.
His electrifying pace and composure in front of goal made him a fan favorite at the Parc des Princes stadium. Mbappé has developed into the central figure of PSG’s project for both the present and future.
| Season | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Honors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 49 | 21 | 16 | Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue |
| 2018-19 | 39 | 39 | 12 | Ligue 1, Trophée des Champions |
| 2019-20 | 37 | 30 | 18 | Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions |
| 2020-21 | 47 | 42 | 11 | Ligue 1, Trophée des Champions |
| 2021-22 | 46 | 39 | 26 | Ligue 1 |
| 2022-23 | 21 | 17 | 5 | None yet |
Table 2: Kylian Mbappé statistics and silverware won at Paris Saint-Germain
In just five full seasons at PSG so far, Mbappé has already racked up a staggering 188 goals and 88 assists across all competitions. He has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France crowns, three Coupe de Ligue trophies, and three Trophée des Champions.
At just 23 years old, his PSG record includes scoring 49 UEFA Champions League goals putting him among the all-time greats already on Europe’s biggest stage.
Kylian Mbappé International Career for France
On the international stage, Mbappé rose just as quickly for the France national team as he did at the club level. National team boss Didier Deschamps called him up to the senior squad in 2017 off the back of his exploits with Monaco.
He scored his first goal for Les Bleus on August 31, 2017 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands aged only 18 years old. He became the youngest French scorer since Maurice Gastiger in 1914.
| Tournament | Games Played | Goals | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | 6 | 1 | Qualified for World Cup |
| 2018 FIFA World Cup | 7 | 4 | Winner, Best Young Player Award |
| Euro 2020 Qualifiers | 8 | 5 | Qualified for Euros |
| UEFA Euro 2020 | 4 | 0 | Round of 16 exit |
| UEFA Nations League 2020-21 | 7 | 3 | Semifinals |
| 2022 World Cup Qualifiers | 8 | 8 | Qualified for World Cup |
| Total | 40 | 21 |
Table 3: Overview of Kylian Mbappé’s international career for France
Mbappé announced himself on the biggest global stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He became the youngest French player to score at a World Cup and became youngest since Pelé in 1958 to score in a final as France defeated Croatia 4-2.
His explosive displays saw him win the Best Young Player award as France won their second-ever World Cup title. Mbappé has continued netting consistently for his country while also emerging as a leader both on and off the pitch.
He will spearhead France’s bid to defend their crown at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where the world’s top talents will be competing to be crowned champions.
Kylian Mbappé Net Worth, Endorsements & Philanthropy
According to Forbes’ rankings, Kylian Mbappé’s estimated net worth as of June 2022 stands at approximately $150 million with average annual earnings of $43 million. At just 23 years old, he ranks among both the richest active footballers playing currently and the highest-paid athletes under age 25 across all sports.
Like all superstar athletes nowadays, Mbappé has lucrative endorsement deals with over 10 global brands that supplement his hefty €25-30 million annual salary at PSG. Some of his top partners include Nike, Hublot, Oakley, Panini, and Dior.
- Major Endorsement Partners: Nike, Hublot, Oakley, Panini, Dior
- Estimated Annual Endorsement Earnings: $18 million
- Estimated Career Earnings: $221 million
Mbappé also runs his own charity organization called Inspired by Kylian Mbappé (IBKM) which supports 98 children from various social backgrounds to aid their personal development through sports.
He partnered with international NGO Première Urgence Internationale to raise funds and awareness for developmental projects linked to sports and education for children around the world i.mpacted by conflict, natural disasters, and poverty.
Style of Play & Key Attributes
As an incredibly quick, skillful and lethal attacker comfortable playing anywhere across the front line, Kylian Mbappé is the prototypical modern.
Style of Play & Key Attributes
As an incredibly quick, skillful and lethal attacker comfortable playing anywhere across the front line, Kylian Mbappé is the prototypical modern forward.
His standout attributes are his explosive acceleration and velocity with the ball at his feet that allows him to beat defenders and run in behind at will. Mbappé couples his electrifying pace with excellent technique, close control while dribbling, vision to play final passes, impressive leap for his height, and advanced finishing ability off both feet.
While capable of playing on either wing, Mbappé is at his most dangerous when deployed centrally as a center forward or false nine. From there he can fully utilize his on-ball talents and off-ball movement to open up space with fast diagonal dribbles towards goal.
Under the tutelage of coaches like Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino at PSG plus Didier Deschamps with France’s stacked national team, Mbappé has added greater playmaking capacity as both a scorer and provider to his game.
Outlook & Future Legacy
Having already accomplished more by age 24 than most footballers do in an entire career, Kylian Mbappé seemingly has the world at his dazzlingly quick feet. His short-term priority is spearheading PSG’s quest to finally win the elusive Champions League crown.
At the international level with reigning world champions France, Mbappé will carry massive expectations as the anointed star of a uniquely gifted generation as his nation bids for back-to-back World Cup titles.
Based on both individual and team honors won already, Mbappé appears a shoo-in to one day win the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award as the world’s premier player.
If Mbappé can maintain his astronomical levels of production and continue leading both PSG and France to major titles over the next decade, he could potentially go down as his country’s greatest ever footballer.
Conclusion
Already recognized by both stats and eye test as the one of the leading talents of world football, the scary part about Kylian Mbappé is that his stratospheric career still seems to only be getting started.
Having conquered France both domestically and internationally to rare air, unprecedented success now beckons for Mbappé on the elite Champions League and World Cup main stages where legends are defined.
Barring catastrophic injury, he appears destined to rack up both individual and team honors for PSG and France national team over the next decade until eventual world domination.
As Mbappé reaches his athletic prime years, his mesmerizing combination of raw pace mixed with technical brilliance could see him shatter goal-scoring records at all levels cementing an unassailable legacy as France’s greatest ever player.
The name Kylian Mbappé Lottin looks locked to not just stand the test of time, but to redefine it for the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kylian Mbappé’s Background & Career
Where did Kylian Mbappé grow up?
Kylian Mbappé was born and raised in the Parisian suburb of Bondy by parents from Cameroon and Algeria. He learned how to play football at local club AS Bondy which was coached by his father Wilfried.
How old was Mbappé when he turned professional?
Mbappé signed his first professional contract with AS Monaco in 2015 at only 16 years old. He was promoted to the first-team squad immediately under manager Leonardo Jardim.
Which club did Mbappé play for before joining Paris Saint-Germain?
AS Monaco was Mbappé’s first professional club. He blossomed into a world-class player for them in 2016-2017 while leading Monaco’s thrilling young team to the Ligue 1 title and Champions League semi-finals.
How much did PSG pay to sign Mbappé permanently from Monaco?
After an initial year-long loan in 2017, PSG paid a €180 million transfer fee for Kylian Mbappé in 2018 which made him the most expensive teenager ever. He also became the world’s second-highest transfer behind teammate Neymar at the time (€222 million).
What was Mbappé’s breakthrough international tournament?
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia marked Kylian Mbappé’s introduction to the world as a global superstar for France. Then 19 years old, Mbappé became the youngest player since Pelé to score in a World Cup final on route to winning the Best Young Player award as France won the trophy.
At what age did Mbappé make his debut and score his first goal for the France national team?
Mbappé earned his first senior cap for France in 2017 at only 18 years old. He scored his first international goal on August 31, 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands national team.
