World Cup 2018: Kylian Mbappe’s rise as global star coinciding nicely with France’s push for second title
EVERYONE knew Kylian Mbappe was good but the French teen has taken his game into superstar territory in Russia. His speed, skill, trickery, predatory instincts and extraordinary maturity have been a sight to behold.
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THE world has gone crazy over Kylian Mbappe.
The lid is well and truly off this mega-talent with playing and coaching greats Pele, Diego Maradona, (Brazilian) Ronaldo and Arsene Wenger leading the chorus of praise.
Expectations were already high, with PSG agreeing a fee with Monaco that already made the lightning winger the world’s second most expensive player at $284 million.
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But he has translated that into a string of starring roles in Russia, where his speed, skill, trickery, predatory instincts and extraordinary maturity have spectacularly melded to become France’s chief weapon.
Mbappe, who turns 20 in December, has shown maturity on and off the pitch, batting away Ballon d’Or talk and declaring his focus on World Cup victory.
“I want to win the World Cup - the Ballon d’Or is not my problem,’’ Mbappe said.
“It is unbelievable (reaching the final). It is the dream of dreams, the dream of the future, everything.
“I don’t have the words. Not even in my wildest dreams, and I am a big dreamer, would I have imagined this.
“There is still one more step to take, but we are proud of what we have done.”
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren first spotted his talents in 2016, when younger brother Davor locked horns with him in the Under 19 European Championships, where Mbappe scored five goals en route to a France win.
He’s not surprised with Mbappe’s, nor France’s, progress in Russia.
“I remember I was looking at Mbappe three years ago – he was playing against my brother, so they are the same age – Under 16 or 17 Championships – Croatia was playing against France,’’ Lovren said.
“I said to my brother some good words.
“I always believed that France was one of the favourites to win the World Cup – they showed (at Euro) 2016 and now that they are with a reason here.”
Renowned youth coach and analyst Tom Byer said Mbappe’s youth years mirror most megastars - early exposure and plenty of time on the ball.
“He does epitomise our philosophy in that football starts at home for the great players,’’ Byer said.
“Everything that you read about Mbappe circles back to him being in the locker-room with his dad from a young age, always around football. He was often playing in his living room.
“There’s no big secret when you see these great players, it’s early engagement from a very early age – under the age of six – and the parents seem to be the influencer.
“These great players just had such an early head start before everybody else that once they’ve crossed that line to organised play, they’re just setup for accelerated learning – they feel so comfortable, they’ve mastered the ball.”
Mbappe joined France’s famed Clairefontaine age 12, but as president of his junior club, AS Bondy – who are now being inundated with requests for youth registrations – Atmane Airouche said, by that stage he’d been kicking a ball for 10 years.
He signed for Monaco at 14, after rejecting offers from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. And by 2015, he broke Thierry Henry’s record of becoming Monaco’s youngest debutant – age 16 years, 347 days.
“You could say that Kylian was born here at this club. He was here as a baby when his father was a player and a coach. He was always here and learning about football, even as a toddler,’’ Airouche told BBC.
“When we played games, just before kick-off you’d see a two-year-old walk in with a ball and he’d sit with us to listen to the team talks. I think he’s the player here who must have heard the record number of pre-match team talks.”
Frenchman Arsene Wenger said Mbappe’s youth makes his Russia 2018 impact most impressive.
“Do not forget that Kylian is only 19 years old - we do not realise what that means at this level. You need to take a step back to understand it. It is exceptional what he has achieved,’’ Wenger told Bein Sports.
“When Kylian was 17 and playing for Monaco, his numbers were incredible. When the numbers are there at that age, it means that there is efficiency on top of very young talent -- this proves that he is part of the group of five or six top players that will soon dominate the world.”
“He is the type of player who always makes you hopeful when he gets the ball that he’s going to do something special. Watching him soothes the heart.”
Maradona watched Mbappe single-handedly destroy his native Argentina, in his best performance of the World Cup, headlined by a brace.
“I like Mbappe very very much. To me he is the revelation of the World Cup,’’ Maradona said.
Mbappe is already having a bigger impact than Henry did in his maiden World Cup of France ’98 – and the Arsenal great was 16 months older.
If Les Bleus can win their second World Cup, Mbappe is bound to play a pivotal role.
Either way, the secret may be out, but his potential is frightening.
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