KYLIAN MBAPPE says he must be selfish on the pitch – but it goes against everything he is off it.
Away from the game, the World Cup winning PSG superstar has set up a charitable foundation to help young kids, and bases his life on solidarity with others.
But on the pitch Mbappe is ruthless, with the 22-year-old again in stunning form this season, notching 37 goals in 43 appearances.
Explaining the different mindsets, Mbappe told the Hublot Fusion podcast: “At work, I have to be selfish, to score goals.
“There you are, I take my selfish kit, I put it on and then I take it off again and leave it in the changing room when I leave the game, that’s what I’m asked to do and that’s why I’m being paid too.”
Mbappe’s rise to the top of the game has been meteoric, and as his stature has grown, the Parisian has come to understand the responsibility that comes with it.
He said: “I think I represent this voice, the people who are not heard.
“This whole community that follow me, that is behind me. I think they expect that of me. And it’s true that I took a little while, because it’s one of the things that I needed to digest.
“I assumed that playing football and being nice was enough, but no, it’s not enough. Because from the moment you become someone important, you have a duty to perform and people need that, need a benchmark and I think I’m ready to be that person.”
Mbappe is among the inspirational new generation of footballers using their platform to make a positive difference.
In England, Marcus Rashford has shown the power footy stars can wield by helping transform the nation with his campaigning for impoverished children.
Mbappe says his desire to help others started from a very young age.
The former Monaco star said: “It is the upbringing that I was given. It’s been in me since I was little thanks to my parents. I’ve always been taught to help others, to always ask others if they need help, or anything and to always be there for people.
“At the start, it’s simple. When you are little, it’s sharing a snack, kicking a ball with another friend, inviting them to play, inviting them to share moments. It starts there, by sharing, we share things.
“When we went to tournaments as a team, we always had those moments, when we all ate together between matches, we did activities together…This sharing, we played cards, everyone shared what they had and that was also great in tournaments, not just in matches, even if we liked matches. It was also about the day that we were going to spend together, this sharing of things that was very enriching for us. And I have wonderful memories. And then, when you have grown up, it goes through more important things.”
France fans will be hoping Mbappe can bring his team-mates together – yet show his selfish side when he needs to – as Le Bleus bid for glory this summer at Euro 2020.
Hublot are the Official Watch of UEFA EURO 2020 and to celebrate are launching the Big Bang e UEFA EURO 2020 Limited Edition
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
