Kylian Mbappe’s father laments Real Madrid star’s lost childhood

Kylian Mbappe’s father admits that he has regrets over his son’s career path, which has taken him to World Cup glory and Real Madrid.

Wilfried Mbappe has discussed the sacrifices that the attacker has made throughout his life to become one of the leading players in the world.

In particular, he zeroed in on Kylian’s early departure from home and the missed experiences he had with his son.

‘There are so many things we didn’t do’

“I want to emphasise the sacrifices that were made. You’re talking about the sacrifices it means, on a human level, to have a son who plays football,” Mbappe senior told France 5’s ‘C à vous’ programme.

“Kylian left home at the age of 12 and never returned. People don’t realise that. Now that it’s a successful project, people tell me: ‘He’s become this,’ ‘He’s become that.’ But there are so many things we miss. So many irreplaceable things. So many things we didn’t do.

“These days, who has children to lose at 13 or 14? No one! There isn’t a father, not a mother, who can say: ‘My son left home at 13 and never came back!’ That’s what happened to us. It’s his project, it’s a beautiful story and all that, but it’s true that when I explain it to some parents… they don’t understand. People don’t understand – he was already playing at Monaco, with champions…”

Zidane’s impact on Mbappe

Wilfried recounted the first time Kylian met Zinedine Zidane and remembers the enormous impact it had on his son.

“As a child, Kylian was cheerful and boisterous. When this man opened the door… bam! He gestured for him to be quiet, and he became completely mute. Since that day, I’ve seen Zidane differently. He’s truly a remarkable person.”

Mbappe has yet to work with Zidane in a professional setting, but it may only be a matter of time, with ‘Zizou’ expected to replace Didier Deschamps as France national team coach when the legendary boss steps down after the 2026 World Cup.

“If it’s Zidane, we’ll all be delighted,” he said. “I don’t know if he’s the ideal candidate, but it would be a very good thing. It will be very difficult to succeed Deschamps. Today, people will find many faults with him, but once he’s gone, we’ll discover his many qualities.”