Kylian Mbappe concluded the previous year as the world’s highest-paid footballer. Today marks the eighth anniversary of his inaugural match for Monaco in the French Ligue 1, a pivotal moment that signaled the rise of the then-16-year-old forward.
In his debut against Caen (1:1), Kylian, replacing Fabio Coentrao, set a new record at 16 years and 347 days, surpassing the longstanding achievement of French football icon Thierry Henry by 21 years.
Remarkably, within two months, Mbappe further etched his name in history as the youngest scorer in Monaco’s annals, eclipsing the record previously held by the esteemed Arsenal and Barcelona striker.
During his two-season stint with Monaco, Mbappe showcased his prowess in 60 games, amassing 27 goals and contributing 16 assists. His transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 for 185 million euros marked the club’s second-largest transfer at the time, following Neymar’s move from Barcelona for 222 million euros.
Ending the past year as the world’s most expensive player with an annual income of 128 million euros, Mbappe led France to the World Cup final in Qatar. Despite a thrilling 3:3 draw with Argentina in the grand final, Argentina clinched victory in a penalty shootout.
Mbappe displayed exceptional prowess throughout the tournament, scoring all three goals for the “tricolors.” Ultimately, he emerged as the top scorer with eight goals, while Messi, with one less goal, secured recognition as the world’s best player.
