Full name: Kylian Mbappe Lottin
Date of birth: 20 December 1998
Place of birth: Paris, France
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position: Forward
Current team: Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe is destined for greatness.
Still, years from his prime, the French Superstar is already one of the finest footballers on the planet and arguably on course to become the best player of his generation.
Yet for such a high-profile athlete, known worldwide by millions of adoring fans, what more is there left to discover about the sporting celebrity that’s Kylian Mbappe?
Below are the 7 Interesting Kylian Mbappe Facts You Should Know!
His First Idol Wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo
He Almost Joined Chelsea
He Was AS Monaco's Youngest Ever Player
He Could Have Played For Two Other Countries
He Loves His Footwear
He's Faster Than Usain Bolt
He's The Highest Earner In World Football
1. His First Idol Wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo
You may have seen the famous image of young Kylian Mbappe sitting on his bed, all four of his bedroom walls plastered with endless Cristiano Ronaldo posters and paraphernalia.
It’s well known that Mbappe has had an admiration for the Portuguese legend from an early age and long before becoming a professional footballer. But did you know that CR7 wasn't his earliest inspirational figure at all?
"My first idol was Zinedine Zidane for everything he achieved with the national team" Mbappe revealed in a recent online interview. "Then it was Cristiano Ronaldo because he has won a lot and continues to be a winner even after so much success."
It is said that Mbappe greatly values the importance of International football and the idea of becoming a global legend of the game. Even in his early twenties, Mbappe’s achievements with the French side shouldn't be underestimated, already a World Cup winner and national icon.
2. He Almost Joined Chelsea
Back in 2012, a twelve-year-old Kylian Mbappe was busy grabbing the attention of several clubs across Europe including Spanish giants Real Madrid. He was also making quite the impression amongst English teams with rumours of interest from Liverpool and Manchester City too. But it was Chelsea who would eventually offer the youngster a trial.
Reportedly those at Stamford Bridge were initially “not convinced” by his performance and rather than signing Mbappe, they offered him a place in their academy instead, with a view of possibly securing his signature at a later date. His Mother refused. “Either they sign him now,” she warned and seemingly wanted Chelsea to recruit her boy immediately. “Or within five years they'll have to offer €50 million to tie him down!” Mbappe would eventually stay in France and one year later signed for AS Monaco.
3. He Was AS Monaco's Youngest Ever Player
Mbappe was thirteen when he put pen to paper on a contract with AS Monaco’s Youth Academy. Two years later he would go on to make his senior debut in Ligue 1 and became the club's youngest ever first-team player - aged just 16 years and 347 days, in the process breaking a 21-year-old record set by his fellow countryman Thierry Henry back in 1994.
During his first full season with AS Monaco, Mbappe scored an impressive 26 goals and eight assists in all competitions. His progression was spectacular and after only 60 appearances for the club made the switch to PSG for a fee of €180 million or approximately £150 million.
4. He Could Have Played For Two Other Countries
It’s hard to imagine Kylian Mbappe being associated with any other nation apart from his beloved France, especially with the success and cult status he has achieved on the International stage. But did you know that he could have easily chosen to play for Algeria or Cameroon instead?
Mbappe’s roots are diverse with neither parent being of French origin. His Mother is Algerian and his Father is from Cameroon. This meant that once Mbappe made the step up to the senior level, he technically qualified to play for all three nations.
Yet Mbappe’s love of the Country in which he was born, an affection for the culture he grew up in, and a natural connection to the French footballing icons he’d adored from a young age, it became almost inevitable that he would choose to represent France. Mbappe was selected to play for the renowned Clairefontaine Academy, the French Football Federation’s elite youth system, and went on to feature for France at the ‘under’ levels before quickly breaking through to the first team. The rest, they say - is History.
5. He Loves His Footwear
One of Mbappe's biggest passions is his love for Footwear. In particular, he has an obsession with Trainers (or ‘sneakers’ as they are known in the US) and Football boots. Growing up he formed a particular taste for the Nike brand and continues to be affiliated with the company throughout his career to date.
‘I would cry to my Mother’ Mbappe told hypebeast.com, often in an attempt to get the Nike Air Max footwear he so desperately wanted, despite his family having very little money and the shoes being expensive. Nike Vapors were Mbappe's Football boot of choice when he was growing up. Apparently, his teammates were so jealous that they’d regularly ask him to borrow the boots. But he would always say no.
Today Nike have even developed a portion of their website, named “Boutique De Mbappe,” where customers can choose from a selection of the Frenchman’s favourite footwear recommendations, with purchases typically costing up to €400. Nike stores have also dedicated sections of their Paris stores to selling products connected to his brand name.
6. He’s Faster Than Usain Bolt!
Everyone knows that Kylian Mbappe is rapid. It's clear that speed is an essential part of his game. Once the Frenchman picks up the ball and decides to drive at a defender it’s normally to devastating effect. But actually how fast is Kylian Mbappe?
In 2019 the Frenchman's former team AS Monaco felt the full force of his pace when he lined up against them for PSG in a Ligue 1 clash. As part of the build-up play for the first of his three goals that day, he broke into full stride and clocked up a speed of 23.61 mph!
Compare that to the man labelled 'fastest on the planet' Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, who ran at 23.35 mph during his world record 100m sprint at the 2009 World Championships.
7. He’s The 3rd Highest Earner In World Football
In a dramatic U-turn, PSG fought off the advances of Real Madrid in 2022 and signed Kylian Mbappe on a three-year deal to keep him in Paris. The rumoured numbers surrounding his new contract were astronomical! The most staggering headline was the estimated £546 million Mbappe stands to earn throughout his extended stay.
The deal itself was labelled “absurd, obscene, and preposterous” by experts in the game. Allegedly, his weekly salary was around £1 million per week or the equivalent of £300 per minute! When you combine Mbappe's on-field (salary and bonuses) with his off-field (sponsorships and endorsements), you truly appreciate his financial power.
According to Forbes, Mbappe is set to earn a total of £106 million across the remainder of this 2022/23 season alone. That’s £6 million more than Lionel Messi in the same period!
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