Teenage Soccer Star's Incredible Move: Donates All His World Cup Earnings to Charity
Do you ever sometimes look at the accomplishments of others and despair? Sure, I know that comparison is a poison and that we should always be measuring our achievements against ourselves.
Sometimes, though, you can’t help but examine an individual’s excellence and shake your head at just how amazing it is. For me, French footballer Kylian Mbappé is one of those people.
The Bondy, France, native seems to have soccer in his blood. As a baby, he toddled behind his coach father and soon enough began playing himself in various youth-oriented leagues.
Antonio Riccardi, a coach for pre-teen athletes who has known Mbappé since he was young, told the BBC, “He was the best player I’ve ever seen in 15 years coaching here. Nobody has even come close.
“In Paris, there are many talents, but I’d never seen a talent like him. He was what we call a craque [i.e., the best].”
MY LOVE ? pic.twitter.com/Ut72cZTLWU
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 15, 2018
We Americans love nothing more than to watch a blazing talent quickly ascend. Yet when Mbappé powered France to its first World Cup victory in 20 years, it took our collective breath away.
Why? Mbappé wasn’t even alive when France won its last World Cup. He’s only 19.
Even more amazing is the fact that this young superstar doesn’t seem to be letting the adulation go to his head. Yes, he received two celebratory kisses from none other than French President Emmanuel Macron.
And, yes, he has received an astonishing amount of money for his on-field performance. Some estimates put his salary for the single month he spent in Russia at more than $500,000 USD.
But Mbappé won’t see a single bit of it. He has said that he’ll give it all to charity.
Although that may sound dramatically generous, those who know Mbappé don’t seem surprised by it. He has supported Premiers de Cordée, a nonprofit that helps ill and handicapped children enjoy sports, since 2017.
“Kylian, he’s a great person,” Sebastien Ruffin, the charity’s general manager, said. “When his schedule allows it, he intervenes for us with great pleasure.
“He has a very good [relationship] with children, [and] he always finds the right [words] to encourage them. I sometimes even feel that [he] takes more pleasure to play with the kids than the kids themselves.”
Mbappé’s focus on life’s most important matters has also extended to his career. His home team of AS Monaco has turned down an astonishing $115 million offer for his transfer.
“Footballer does not rhyme with Ferrari,” he told BeIN Sport in an earlier interview. “I have no car, [and] it’s not a big deal.
“I may be ahead of my age, but in real life I am still a kid.” Good for you, Kylian. We wish you every blessing in both your career and personal life.
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