By Stefanos Gregoriou, The Sports Financial Literacy Academy
Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional soccer player who plays forward for PSG and the French national team. He is considered to be one of the world’s top youngest soccer players, and is admired for his incredible speed, accuracy, perseverance and scoring ability, when it comes to his performance on the field. At 24 years old, he has already managed to achieve more than most professional soccer players ever will; winning the hearts of his fans all around the world.
First and foremost, his athletic accomplishments and performance are truly inspiring. Mbappé was born in 1998, in Bondy, France. He quickly burst onto the scene with AS Bondy’s youth academy, where he rapidly distinguished himself and stood out for his extraordinary sports talents. He later joined the youth academy at Clairefontaine, where he continued to work on his skills and athletic abilities.
In 2013, at the age of 14, Mbappé joined the youth academy in Monaco, where he quickly made a name for himself. In 2015, he made his professional debut for the club, becoming the club’s youngest player in almost 30 years. He soon established himself as a regular starter and helped lead the team to the 2016-2017 Ligue 1 title.
Mbappé’s achievements with Monaco attracted the interest of some of Europe’s top clubs, leading him to join Paris Saint-Germain on loan in August 2017 with the option to make the transfer permanent. There, his talent shined once again, having an instant impact on the club, scoring 26 goals in all competitions and helping lead the squad to the Ligue 1 title in his debut season. In 2018, his loan was converted to a permanent transfer, and he became a permanent member of the club.
It is also worth mentioning, that at an international level, Mbappé made his debut with the French national team in March 2017 and soon became a key player for the team. He helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup, by scoring four goals and becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup final since Pele in 1958.
By the end of the 2021/22 season, Kylian had managed to win five Ligue 1 titles; one with Monaco and four with Paris and three French Cups with Paris. Another moment of glory at an international level, was when France won the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. Even though, the French did not manage to beat Argentina in the finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar in 2022, Mbappé stole the show; being the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals and the second player in history to score a hat-trick in the final. His performance won him the adidas Golden Boot.
His fame and sports success led to several partnerships, including major brands like Nike and Hublot. In 2020, he was chosen by EA Sports for the cover of FIFA 21, making him one of the youngest players to ever get a solo cover with the brand.
Mbappé is not just a soccer icon, but he is also known to the general public for his social impact and activism. He has openly addressed the issue of racism in soccer, and has been a supporter of greater diversity and inclusion in sports. He is not afraid to actively use his social media platforms to raise awareness about the need for change and to motivate others to take action in the fight against racism in sports. Furthermore, Mbappé is also involved in a variety of charitable causes, particularly ones involving children and their rights. In 2021, he also released “Je m’appelle Kylian,” a graphic novel whose purpose is to inspire children to chase their dreams.
Despite his great success, he remains down-to-earth and is respected by teammates, coaches and fans for his humility, dedication and work ethic, on and off the field. In addition, his charismatic and authentic personality, personal beliefs, and life story serve as an inspiration to many. He comes from a humble family background and always remains faithful to his roots; never forgetting where he came from and always willing to give back.
Kylian’s dedication and perseverance are also shown in his famous quote “I’ve never said I was going to be the greatest player in history, but I’ve never put limits on myself. If I get to a certain level, I’m not going to stop myself by putting a barrier up, like: ‘If I get there, then that’s it, that’s my maximum.’ No, I try to push my boundaries and see where that takes me. For the moment, it’s working well for me, and I’ll keep doing that until the end of my career.”
Obviously, Kylian Mbappé is more than just a talented soccer player; he possesses a personality that inspires and influences the general public. His professional accomplishments, as well as his personal life, show that achieving tremendous success while making a difference in the world is an attainable goal!
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