Kylian Mbappé - by Julien Laurens (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The dynamic, authoritative life story of the world's greatest soccer player that paints a vivid portrait of Mbappé's meteoric rise to global stardom.

"Only the second teenager to have scored a goal in a World Cup Final! Welcome to the club--it's great to have some company!"--Pelé

This was the praise lauded upon Kylian Mbappé who, at just nineteen years of age, led France to triumph at the 2018 World Cup. As golden confetti rained down, millions across the globe watched as the young man kissed the iconic trophy; the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best footballer in the world had announced himself. It was his crowning moment.

In Kylian Mbappé The Definitive Biography, Julien Laurens, the world's leading French soccer journalist, crafts a vivid portrait of Mbappé's meteoric rise to global stardom. After a decade covering Kylian's career, Julien has had unprecedented access to the player's friends, coaches, and teammates. Exploring Mbappé's humble upbringing in the suburbs of Paris and schooling at the famed Clairefontaine academy, his peerless rise with AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as his dream move to Real Madrid where his career has reached new heights, this extensive biography crafts an intimate account of Kylian's life.

Julien takes us into the inner workings of Mbappé's psyche, as we witness how becoming a world superstar at just nineteen affected the young Parisian. From the complex relationship he had with his boyhood club (and its hierarchy) to valiantly losing against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the 2022 World Cup Final, and becoming the new face of Real Madrid's galácticos, Julien shows us how the Mbappé that is poised to star at the 2026 World Cup is unrecognizable from the young man who won it with France in 2018.

Review Quotes

"The authoritative read on one of football's biggest stars, by one of France--and Britain's--best football journalists."--Sam Wallace, chief football writer at The Daily Telegraph

Early praise for Kylian Mbappé The Definitive Biography:

"Arguably the finest Paris born-and-bred journalist on the finest Paris born-and-bred footballer."--James Horncastle, Serie A Crrespondent for The Athletic

"The story of Mbappé deserved to be told by someone with a sharp mind and pen, who understands the background and has got a good relationship with Kylian. Julien ticks all the boxes."
--Guillem Balague, award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author and journalist

About the Author

Julien Laurens is one of Britain's leading soccer journalists and widely viewed as the authority on French soccer. He is ESPN's Soccer Correspondent; a pundit for BBC Sport and TNT; co-host of the Gab and Juls Show on ESPN, and a presenter on several top soccer podcasts. He was the lead commentator on the BBC's recent documentary on Kylian Mbappé and its six-part BBC Sounds podcast. Julien lives in England.