Kylian Mbappé: the legacy in search of Euro 2024

Kylian Mbappé is going for the Euro 2024: the generational heir who will not give up until winning it all Sometimes it is difficult for us to understand Kylian Mbappé. This is the case for fans on this side of the planet because the image of Pelé being lifted by Jairzinho in Mexico 1970, or Diego Armando Maradona soaring above the English Shilton with his hand, are iconic moments in the football history of our region. Both images could only have been immortalized in a competition like the World Cup. Therefore, it is not surprising that when the 25-year-old Frenchman states that the Euro is a more challenging tournament for him than a World Cup, there are those who do not hold back their criticisms. Speculations arise that slide between annoyance and reprimand, especially when it is remembered that shortly before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 'Ninja Turtle' stated that "football in South America is not as advanced as in Europe." Justified or not, the hype that is generated every time the forward faces the microphones has an unnoticed aspect. Beyond the fact that it is normal for him not to stay up late to watch the Copa Libertadores, this exaggeration, the possibility that we all might be wrong, is rooted in the fact that the South American fan often forgets that the World Cup champion medal has been shining in the Frenchman's showcase for almost six years now; the runner-up medal, with three of his goals in the final, does not fully satisfy him; and because - there is no doubt - Kylian Mbappé is determined to win it all. This determination is not a mere interpretation or the wishful thinking of a social media enthusiast. Just a few weeks ago, the Real Madrid's new signing pointed towards Euro 2024 and his new club, acknowledging his victories but stating that they have not yet secured a lasting legacy in the world of football for him. "I have achieved many things, but I am still young and I want to do more because I want, as I have already said, my name to be remembered in the history of football. So there is much to do and it is not enough now," he confessed to Amanda Davies from CNN about his future. Son of the Cameroonian of Nigerian origin Wilfried Mbappé Lottin, who arrived in Europe as a refugee, and the Algerian Fayza Lamari, Kylian grew up in the marginalized neighborhood of Bondy, 25 kilometers northeast of Paris. Although it is a troubled and poor area, today it is more visible due to the famous aura that surrounds places where rock stars, actors, or, in this case, footballers come from. According to L'Équipe, the young Kylian used to tell his family, schoolmates, and teachers that he would become the best player ever; a time when he also had a Facebook account under the name Kylian Robinho Gaucho, in which he questioned Lionel Messi, who would later become his teammate at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and idolized Cristiano Ronaldo. 'Kiki's' family has always been closely linked to sports. His father was a football coach at A.S. Bondy, a club where his mother played handball. As expected, young Kylian was trained in that team until, at the age of fourteen (2013), he made the leap to the youth team of A.S. Monaco. After his debut in late 2015, everything went uphill for him, as he became a champion of Ligue 1 in the following season (2016-2017), attracting the attention of European giants with his power, speed, dribbling skills, and goal-scoring ability. Represented by his mother, a lawyer and businesswoman, PSG emerged victorious in the battle for Kylian's services, offering a total of 180 million euros to outbid Real Madrid. Much has been said about that ostentatious transfer, although the player himself has indicated that he did not want to be too far from his family and felt a duty to contribute to the growth of Ligue 1. It was in 2018 that the football milestone occurred which placed the left winger in a place where some idols of the past struggled: becoming a world champion. In Russia, a goal from Mbappé shattered the hopes of the Peruvian national team to reach the round of 16 of the tournament. In that same stage, the striker scored a brace in the victory of 'Les Bleus' over Argentina (4-3). And to top it off, he also scored in the final against Croatia (4-1). Achieving that glory at just 19 years old only enhanced the Parisian's stature. He was immediately placed in the select group of young players expected to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo, who was always denied the most important football award, and Lionel Messi, who ironically managed to defeat him (Qatar 2022), scoring a hat-trick in what experts agree was the most exciting final of all time (3-3). The ultimate generational heir. The combination of these incidents, none of them coincidental, may be the secret behind why, with his 1.78 meters in height, Kylian Mbappé appears larger and faster than any defender or midfielder on the field. The future has developed his leadership skills, brought him goals and titles in Ligue 1 and the French Cup, although the Champions League and the Euro are still seen as pending goals. Without the burden of having to prove anything to anyone and in the absence of iconic moments in the French national team, 'Donatello's' growth does not only revolve around his obsession with defeating every opponent on the field or scoring as many goals as possible. "When talking about a player, it is not only about his goals, only about his trophies. It is also about what you generate in people, the emotions, and how you can be a complete player, how you help your teammates to be better. If I scored 42 goals and next year I score 43, am I better? No, it is more than that, and that is why I want to understand the game better, the world of football, and gain experience," he told CNN last May, despite the accusations of being egotistical and selfish that have been directed at him. Another aspect that sets him apart is his connection to current events, something that distinguishes him from many other athletes and entertainment icons. Just as there should be no debate that football is inherently political, there should also be no hesitation in acknowledging that knowledge and courage are required to discuss society and its issues. And here Mbappé excels, because it is never easier to notice those who truly shine than when many influential figures hide away. Just hours before his national team's debut in Euro 2024, the forward showcased his ability to read the current situation by speaking out against the far-right party of Marine Le Pen (National Rally) and urging young French people to vote in the upcoming legislative elections. In line with his teammate Marcus Thuram (son of World Cup champion Lilian Thuram), who had stated that "we have to fight to prevent the National Rally from winning," Kylian called for awareness of a political situation he described as "unprecedented." "The Euro is important in our career, but we are citizens and we are not disconnected from what is happening in our own country [...] I am against extremism, it divides. There are young people who abstain, but their voice does change things. I want to be proud to defend a country that represents my values. This is more important than tomorrow's match because the country's situation is different. I believe in the values of diversity, tolerance, and respect [...] I hope we choose well and I hope we are still proud to wear this shirt on July 7th (the day of the runoff)," Mbappé stated to the press, causing a new media stir. Nothing new for his fans and critics. With gestures seemingly more mature than mischievous, except for his comments on South American football, questions about the political 'Kiki' or his role at Real Madrid can wait. For now, he focuses on Euro 2024 with the aim of ending his national team's drought in that tournament, which they have not won since the 2000 edition in Belgium and the Netherlands. Mike Maignan, Eduardo Camavinga, and Antoine Griezmann are key names for France to once again aim for a continental trophy under the guidance of Didier Deschamps and the leadership of the striker. Who knows. In sporting terms, we may never fully understand him, but perhaps for Kylian Mbappé, the historical book cover of European football does not necessarily have to feature a photo of him lifting the World Cup. Because regardless of the antipathy or deep admiration his figure instills in these parts of the globe, if there is one thing we can agree on, it is that the best of him is yet to come.