Mbappe is Time magazine’s ‘Future of Soccer’

Sport

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé‘s swift rise to global fame has earned the teenage World Cup winner an appearance on the front page of Time magazine’s international edition, to appear on Friday.

Time said Mbappé was a global superstar who “is the future of soccer.”

In September 2017, Mbappe made headlines when he moved from Ligue 1 side Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain for a staggering €180-million, a deal that saw the then 18-year-old player handed a reported monthly salary of €1.5-million.

However, the 19-year-old’s career catapulted at the World Cup this year where a series of remarkable displays drew compliments from Brazil legend Pele on his way to helping France end their 20-year wait to win another World Cup trophy.

Mbappe became the youngest French goalscorer in World Cup history when he struck in a 1-0 win over Peru in the group stages.

The teenager from the Parisian suburb of Bondy then tore apart Argentina, scoring twice and earning a penalty as Les Blues eliminated the highly-fancied South Americans 4-3 in the last 16 knockout round.

In doing so, Mbappé became only the second teenager, after Pele in 1958, to score two goals in a World Cup match.

When Mbappé scored with a five-yard strike in the final, a 4-2 win over Croatia, he became only the second teenager to do so, after Pele, in 1958.

With a total of four goals in the tournament, Mbappe received Fifa’s award for Best Young Player of the World Cup.

Arguably better still were the plaudits from Pele himself, who said: “If Kylian keeps on equalling my records, I’m going to have to dust off my boots.”

Mbappé‘s teenage days will end when he celebrates his 20th birthday on December 20.

He is expected to spearhead France’s attack Thursday when France host Iceland in a friendly in Guingamp.

 

-Mail&Gaurdian

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