Kylian Mbappe: From Most Expensive Teenager To World Cup Winner

Kylian Mbappe is regarded as the finest player of his generation and the first player to threaten the duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at the top of world football. Blessed with blistering pace, agility and dribbling abilities, he is a threat to every opposition he has faced thus far in his career.

His talent has seen him break multiple records and excel on the world stage, with his playing career ahead of him, Mbabbpe can continue to write his name in the annals of football history. Join us as we follow the journey of Kylian Mbappe as one of the greatest players in world football.

Player Profile – Kylian Mbappe Lottin

Kylian Mbappe is a French professional footballer, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. Mbappe quickly rose to prominence with his incredible speed, agility, and goal-scoring prowess.

He began his professional career with AS Monaco, leading them to a Ligue 1 title in 2017. Shortly after, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in a record transfer deal. The Frenchman continued to excel, winning multiple league titles and domestic trophies.

Mbappe’s international career is equally impressive; he played a pivotal role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory. He became the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final after late Brazilian legend Pele.

Off the field, Mbappe has secured major endorsements with brands like Nike and Hublot and has been featured on the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA video game series.

Recognized for his influence and earning power, he was named among Time’s 100 most influential people in 2023 and ranked third on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes the same year.

Player Profile Overview

Early Life

Kylian Mbappe was born on December 20, 1998, in Paris and grew up in Bondy, a northeastern suburb of the city. He showed a passion for football early on, he joined the local club AS Bondy at age six.

His talent quickly attracted scouts from major French clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco. Mbappe honed his skills at the Clairefontaine National Football Institute, an elite academy for promising young players.

Inspired by legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, and Cristiano Ronaldo, he dreamed of playing for Real Madrid.

Youth Career

Mbappe’s began his football journey at AS Bondy, a local club where his father was a coach. Even at a young age, he displayed remarkable talent and an advanced understanding of the game.

His exceptional skills soon caught the attention of larger clubs, leading him to join the prestigious Clairefontaine academy, renowned for nurturing French football talents.

At Clairefontaine, Mbappe honed his abilities further, demonstrating outstanding speed, dribbling, and goal-scoring capabilities. His performances attracted interest from top European clubs, but he chose to join AS Monaco’s youth academy in 2013. 

Mbappe’s rapid progress through Monaco’s ranks was nothing short of extraordinary. He made his professional debut for the club at just 16, breaking records and earning a reputation as one of the most promising young talents in the sport.

Senior Career

Kylian Mbappe started his senior career with Monaco’s reserve team. However, after impressing his coaches, he was quickly promoted to the main squad after just three weeks by coach Leonardo Jardim. He became Monaco’s youngest-ever first-team player on 2 December 2015, surpassing Thierry Henry’s record.

Mbappe became the youngest first-team goalscorer in Monaco’s history at the age of 17 years and 62 days in 2016. He signed his first professional contract with Monaco on 6 March 2016, a three-year deal keeping him at the club until June 2019. 

Becoming A Regular for Monaco and Winning the Ligue 1

After an impressive first season, Mbappe became a first-team regular and put in several impressive performances. He secured his first hat-trick in a 7-0 victory over Rennes in the Coupe de la Ligue, becoming the first Monaco player to do so in the competition since 1997.

Mbappe continued his impressive form by scoring his first Ligue 1 hat-trick in a 5-0 win against Metz, becoming the youngest player to do so since 2005.

In the UEFA Champions League, he scored his first European goal against Manchester City and became the second-youngest French scorer in Champions League history. Mbappe further impressed by reaching ten Ligue 1 goals, making him the youngest player to do so in the past thirty years.

He played a crucial role in Monaco’s Champions League campaign, scoring key goals in the knockout stages against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

However, Monaco was eliminated by Juventus in the semi-finals, Mbappe finished the season with 26 goals in all competitions as Monaco clinched the Ligue 1 title. He attributed his success to the guidance of teammate Radamel Falcao, who helped him develop a calm and serene mindset on the pitch.

Moving to Paris and Joining Paris Saint-Germain

After winning the Ligue 1 title with Monaco, Mbappe moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco on loan with a mandatory purchase option of €180 million.

Mbappe was convinced to join PSG partly due to a persuasive speech by manager Unai Emery at his home. The €180 million fee made him the most expensive teenager ever. He is also the second-most-expensive player ever, behind teammate Neymar.

Mbappe made a scoring PSG debut on September 8, 2017, with a goal in a 5–1 Ligue 1 win against Metz. He scored his first European goal for the club in a 5–0 UEFA Champions League win over Celtic. Mbappe’s impressive performances included setting up goals for teammates in victories over Bayern Munich.

He became the youngest player to reach ten Champions League goals at the age of 18 years and 11 months. Mbappe won his first league title with PSG and featured in their 2–0 win over Les Herbiers in the Coupe de France final on May 8, 2018.

Becoming the 2018-2019 Ligue 1 Player of the Year

Mbappe took the number 7 jersey at PSG, a significant move as he aimed to live up to the legacy of great players who had worn the number including his idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

He started the season strong, scoring twice in PSG’s 3–1 win over Guingamp and contributing to goals in subsequent matches against Angers and Nîmes. Despite being sent off for the first time in his career in the match against Nîmes, he expressed no regrets for his retaliatory action.

Mbappe continued his impressive form, scoring four goals in 13 minutes in a 5–0 win against Lyon, making him the youngest player in 45 seasons to achieve such a feat in Ligue 1. He won the inaugural Kopa Trophy in December, awarded to the best under-21 player in the world.

In January 2019, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in a 9–0 victory over Guingamp, and in February, he scored in PSG’s 2–0 Champions League win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

By March, he had reached his 50th goal for PSG. Despite PSG’s eventual Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United, Mbappe netted another hat-trick in April against his former club, Monaco.

PSG finished the season as Ligue 1 champions, with Mbappe not only securing the Player of the Year award but also finishing as the league’s top scorer with 33 goals.

Reaching the Champions League Final

Mbappe had a remarkable 2019-20 and 2020-21 season with Paris Saint-Germain. Starting on 3 August 2019, he scored in a 2-1 win over Rennes, securing the Trophée des Champions.

He continued his form with a goal in PSG’s opening Ligue 1 match against Nîmes. On 22 October, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in a Champions League match against Club Brugge, becoming the youngest player to score at least 15 goals in the competition.

Despite the season being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, PSG were declared Ligue 1 champions, with Mbappe finishing as joint-top scorer with 18 goals.

He also helped PSG win the Coupe de France, although an injury sidelined him for the Coupe de la Ligue final, which PSG also won. He returned to action in the Champions League, assisting a crucial goal in the quarter-finals against Atalanta, but PSG lost the final to Bayern Munich.

In the 2020-21 season, after recovering from COVID-19, Mbappe scored his 100th goal for PSG and set records in the Champions League, including becoming the youngest player to reach 20 goals in the competition.

He scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the round of 16 and surpassed Pauleta’s goal tally to become PSG’s third-highest scorer. Mbappe also became the first player to score five braces in a Ligue 1 season.

He continued his strong performance in the Champions League, scoring twice against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Despite PSG being eliminated by Manchester City in the semi-finals, Mbappe ended the season as the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 27 goals. He also won the Coupe de France and was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year, making it into the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.

Kylian Mbappe is PSG’s All-Time Record Goalscorer

Mbappe was booed by Paris Saint-Germain  fans before their opening home match of the 2021–22 season amid rumours of his potential move to Real Madrid. Despite the hostility, PSG won 4–2 against Strasbourg, with Mbappe assisting three goals.

He scored his first goal of the season in a 4–2 win over Brest six days later and netted twice in a 2–0 victory against Reims, where Lionel Messi made his debut. In November, he scored in a 2–1 Champions League loss to Manchester City and later achieved a milestone as the youngest player to reach 30 Champions League goals.

Mbappe reached 100 league goals for PSG in December, becoming the youngest player to achieve this for a single team in the French top flight.

He scored a hat-trick in a Coupe de France match against Vannes in January 2022 and continued his form by scoring decisive goals in league and Champions League matches, including a win over Real Madrid.

In May 2022, Mbappe extended his contract with PSG until 2025, amidst intense speculation of a move to Real Madrid. This deal reportedly made him the highest-paid player in the world. Following the contract extension, he scored a hat-trick against Metz, finishing the season as Ligue 1’s top scorer and assist provider.

In the 2022–23 season, Mbappe scored early and frequently, including a hat-trick against Lille and a brace in a Champions League win over Juventus. Despite rumours of wanting to leave PSG, he denied these claims. He became PSG’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Edinson Cavani, and ended the season as the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the fifth consecutive season. Mbappe also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award for the fourth consecutive season and featured in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.

Kylian Mbappe’s Last Season with PSG

In June 2023, Kylian Mbappe announced he would not renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which was set to expire in June 2024. Despite rumours of his potential move to Real Madrid, Mbappe confirmed his intention to remain at PSG for the 2023-24 season.

However, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi emphasized that Mbappe needed to sign a new contract to stay with the club. Consequently, Mbappe was excluded from PSG’s preseason tour in Japan but was reintegrated into the team in August after positive discussions.

Mbappe kicked off the season with a goal in a draw against Toulouse and continued to make significant contributions, including scoring his 150th and 151st Ligue 1 goals and PSG’s first Champions League goal of the season.

He also achieved milestones such as his first hat-trick of the season and becoming PSG’s all-time top scorer at Parc des Princes. In January 2024, Mbappe scored in the Trophée des Champions and broke Edinson Cavani‘s scoring record.

Throughout the season, Mbappe continued to excel, scoring crucial goals in both domestic and Champions League matches. In March 2024, he confirmed his intention to leave PSG upon contract expiration.

By May, Mbappe officially announced his departure from PSG at the end of the season. His last home match saw him score in a 3–1 loss to Toulouse, marking the end of his illustrious career at the club.

International Career

In July 2016, Kylian Mbappe scored five goals for France, leading them to victory in the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. His two goals in the semi-final against Portugal were crucial for France reaching the final, and he was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Mbappe was called up to the senior France squad for the first time in March 2017 for matches against Luxembourg and Spain. He debuted against Luxembourg on 25 March, becoming the second youngest player to play for France at 18 years, three months, and five days.

He scored his first senior international goal on 31 August 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands and added two more goals in a friendly against Russia in March 2018.

Kylian Mbappe and Les Bleus 2018 FIFA World Cup Winners

Kylian Mbappe was called up to the France squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he became the youngest French goalscorer in World Cup history with a goal against Peru.

He excelled in the tournament, earning the Man of the Match award in a 4-3 victory over Argentina, where he scored twice and won a penalty.

Mbappe became the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final, helping France to a 4-2 win over Croatia. He finished the tournament with four goals and received the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award.

In June 2019, Mbappe scored his 100th career goal during a Euro 2020 qualifier against Andorra. Despite testing positive for COVID-19 in September 2020, he returned to help France secure wins in the UEFA Nations League.

Mbappe participated in the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 but did not score any goals and missed a crucial penalty in the shoot-out against Switzerland, leading to France’s elimination from the tournament.

Kylian Mbappe Wins the UEFA Nations League with France

In the 2021 Nations League semi-final, Kylian Mbappe assisted Karim Benzema and scored a penalty to help France defeat Belgium 3-2, marking his 50th appearance for France. In the final against Spain, Mbappe set up Karim Benzema again and scored the winning goal, leading France to their first Nations League title and earning the Golden Boot.

On 13 November 2021, Mbappe scored four goals in a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan, securing France’s place in the 2022 World Cup. He also scored and assisted in the subsequent qualifier against Finland.

During the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe played a key role in France’s victories over Australia, Denmark, and Poland, contributing goals and assists. In the final against Argentina, he scored a hat-trick, making him the second player in history to do so in a World Cup final.

Despite his efforts, France lost in a penalty shootout. Mbappe finished as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, becoming the sixth all-time top scorer in World Cup history and the top scorer in World Cup finals with four goals.

Kylian Mbappe’s Personal Life

Kylian Mbappe is actively engaged in philanthropic efforts, contributing to the Fondation PSG, which supports underprivileged children, and the Premiers de Cordée, aiding disabled and hospitalized children.

He is an avid video game player, particularly fond of the FIFA series, and has a keen interest in fashion, appearing in various fashion shows and magazine covers.

His social media presence has grown immensely, with over 100 million Instagram followers as of 2023. Mbappe acknowledges the dramatic changes in his life since gaining fame but expresses happiness and contentment. He is fluent in French, English, and Spanish.

Kylian Mbappe has a collaboration with Nike, launching his own football boots, the Kylian Mbappe Nike Hypervenom 3 in 2017.

The following year, he introduced the Nike Mercurial Superfly VI boots, inspired by the R9 Mercurial boots of Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Additionally, Swiss watchmaker Hublot signed him as a global ambassador in 2018.

Mbappe has also been prominently featured in the EA Sports FIFA video game series. In FIFA 18, he had the highest potential rating of 94. Furthermore, his trademark goal celebration, inspired by his younger brother Ethan, was included in FIFA 19. He made history as the youngest solo cover star of FIFA 21.

In 2023, Time magazine included Mbappe in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The same year, he was ranked third on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Conclusion

Kylian Mbappe’s journey from a promising young talent to one of the most celebrated footballers in the world is a testament to his exceptional skill, dedication, and charisma.

His early rise to fame, marked by record-breaking performances and numerous accolades, has been complemented by influential endorsements and a strong presence both on and off the field.

Mbappe’s impact extends beyond football, as evidenced by his recognition among Time’s 100 most influential people and his significant earnings highlighted by Forbes. As he continues to evolve as a player and a global icon, Mbappe’s legacy is set to inspire future generations, ensuring his place among the greatest of the sport.