The incredible transformation of Kylian Mbappé

A rapid rise by any measure

When it comes to journeys into football superstars, Kylian Mbappé’s story is truly unique. It's not just about his raw, natural talent or unmatched pitch IQ, but the sheer time it took him to reach the absolute zenith of the footballing world.

More to his story than meets the eye

By the age most players are still fighting for first-team minutes, Mbappé was already a World Cup winner, a global icon, and a symbol of football’s new era. But speed can distort perspective. And if Mbappé’s rise has often felt inevitable, the truth, like the player himself, is far more layered.

A history of producing some of the best footballers

While Bondy might be just 10kms from the heart of Paris, it might as well be another world. It's one of the poorest areas in the country, yet despite its setbacks, it's got long a history of producing some of the best footballers in the country, as Al Jazeera reported.

Family behind him all the way

While everything revolves around football for most kids in Bondy – that was doubly true for Mbappé. His father, Wilfried, was a youth coach for AS Bondy. His mother, Fayza, had been a professional handball player. Football was part of the family rhythm from the start – and it wouldn't be long before he was being trained by his father.

Pitted against the best

According to former AS Bondy youth team-mate Rayan Vianga, as reported by the BBC, Mbappé was actually somewhat unremarkable at first, and lacking in speed. But his Wilfred always put him against "the best defenders" – a baptism by fire, but ultimately forced him to improve fast.

Wanting to be the best

The young Mbappé watched videos of Cristiano Ronaldo, studied moves, and treated matches like rehearsals for a bigger stage. By his early teens, word had already spread: this was a player with unusual talent and drive.

Pro at 16

He joined the Clairefontaine academy, then Monaco’s youth system. At 16, he made his professional debut. Within a year, he was one of the most talked-about young players in Europe.

A superstar from the get-go

Mbappé’s 2016–17 season with Monaco was a turning point. Playing with confidence and maturity well beyond his age, he scored 26 goals in all competitions and helped lead the team to a Ligue 1 title and a Champions League semifinal.

A big name in a big system

Mbappé joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, initially on loan, then permanently for €180 million — a record fee for a teenager. At 18, he was now part of one of the most ambitious clubs in world football, alongside Neymar and later Lionel Messi.

World Cup winner at 19

The 2018 World Cup in Russia changed everything. Mbappé played a key role in France’s run to the title, scoring four goals — including one in the final — and becoming only the second teenager after Pelé to score on that stage. He was 19.

Now expected to lead

He returned home a national hero. But with that came expectations — not just to perform, but to lead.

Doing his bit for PSG

In Ligue 1, he dominated. Season after season, he delivered goals, assists, and individual accolades. But while domestic success came regularly, the Champions League title — the one PSG wanted most — remained out of reach. A loss in the 2020 final was the closest they came with Mbappé still on the books.

Starring role in 2022

In Qatar 2022, he scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina. France fell short on penalties, but Mbappé’s performance was a reminder of how central he had become to the team’s identity.

Transformed man

Over the years, his body has undergone a clear transformation to emphasise his natural speed, but improve his overall power and explosiveness.

Drills

According to Goal, Mbappé's off-pitch training at PSG was centred on the usual agility and speed drills – such as ladder and box drills – but also intense cardio sessions centred around cycling or running.

Strength training

This would be paired with split-week strength training workouts, focusing on high-rep, lower-weight exercises such as bench press, squats, deadlifts, dumbbell curls and raises – as well as core exercises such as planks, crunches and leg raises.

At the top of the world

All this – along with a lean and clean diet of fresh fruits, nuts and high protein foods such as chicken, tuna and egg – gave him a lean, but powerful physique that gave him an explosive edge to ensure he can compete with the best in the world.

"I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that"

"It wasn’t an easy situation; I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that,” Mbappé told the Guardian. “It was more than just staying at PSG. There were a lot of things around that situation. It was a big decision, a difficult one."

Shining at Real Madrid ...

Now at Real Madrid, Mbappé hasn't missed a beat and is still very much adding to his already highly decorated career, having set the club record for goals in a debut season with 39, and becoming LaLiga's top scorer for the season in 2024/25.