sport news Is King Kylian too powerful? Mbappe key to World Cup defence but trouble is ... trends now
Back in October 2018, as the ticker-tape settled on France’s World Cup victory, Time magazine crowned the boy who would be king.
‘Kylian Mbappe is the future of soccer,’ they declared. Gazing out from the classic cover, where cultural icons and world leaders jostle for space, was a kid from Paris’ rough outer ring.
Then just 19, Mbappe had become the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele. Already the world’s most expensive teenager, he was then named the tournament’s best young player.
France star Kylian Mbappe (above) is more prominent and powerful than ever before
But Mbappe never thought his — or France’s — reign would last. ‘In four years, you are forgotten,’ he said at the time. ‘There is someone else who has arrived and done better.’
He was half right. New stars have emerged; scandal and storm clouds have converged. More than once, time threatened to dethrone Mbappe. As France prepare to defend their title, however, the forward is more prominent and powerful than ever.
Expectations abound in Qatar, where he will write the latest chapter of a remarkable career.
Since that crowning summer in Russia, Mbappe has considered quitting Les Bleus. He has taken on the French Football Federation. He has become entangled with presidents, witch doctors, an army of Twitter bots and the attack by one female club-mate on another at Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe with head coach Didier Deschamps as the French prepare their title defence
The then teenager played an influential role as France lifted the World Cup four years ago
En route to signing football’s richest contract and cementing his position of strength for club and country, Mbappe has invited scorn and accusations of greed. Even this tournament could become a mere staging post in the melodrama of what comes next. It is of little help to manager Didier Deschamps, whose side are saddled with injuries (Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Christopher Nkunku are out) and scandal.
They could do with Mbappe finding the form of 2018, when he appeared on billboards in Paris and on the high-rise buildings of his home neighbourhood, Bondy. ‘I am living the life I always dreamed of,’ he told Time.
Even then, though, Mbappe preached important lessons: ‘The biggest stars and the greatest players are the most humble.’
He donated his World Cup earnings to charity. To this day, he reportedly forgoes his France match fees. His foundation, Inspired by KM, supports 98 children — from all backgrounds — until they begin working.
He will be looking to help France retain their title during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
France could do with Mbappe finding the form of 2018, when he appeared on billboards in Paris and on the high-rise buildings of his home neighbourhood, Bondy
