TA interview with Mbappe - Part 3: Ronaldo used to be my idol, now he’s my friend

Mbappe took an exclusive interview with The Athletic, and talked about Making history, the Ballon d’Or, and mid-air Liverpool talks.

Related Readings

TA interview with Mbappe - Part 1: I want to speak different languages, fun to learn a new culture

TA interview with Mbappe - Part 2: I didn’t expect to be the top scorer of all time at the WC, at 27

Interview PART 3

We saw that last week when Mbappe and two of his Madrid team-mates, Ibrahima Konate and Vinicius Junior, signalled their reluctance to wear T-shirts in support of Ceuta – the Spanish territory in northern Africa that has been battling a migration crisis from neighbouring Morocco — in case it looked like he was taking a position against immigration.

There was another example during the World Cup when he publicly condemned a “despicable” Paraguayan senator for the “hatred and racism” in her comments after the two nations had played one another in the round of 16.

“Everybody has their own values and own mentality,” Mbappe reflects. “Me… I’m a guy who is not scared to talk. When I believe I’m in the right direction and it’s the right thing to do, I go (out there). Of course, I think beforehand about how I say it, and the construction of what I’m going to say, but I want to go. I have no problem with that. It’s the story of my career and the story of my life. It’s me. And I will not try to be someone else because it’s too difficult. I have no time to be someone else.”

Speaking out, as Mbappe can testify, can lead to a backlash. Politicians debate him. The criticism can be fierce. Either way, Mbappe says he will not be silenced.

“You have to accept when you say something that there are people who agree and people who disagree. If you want everybody to love you, stay at home — your family loves you. If you don’t, there are people who are going to say, ‘I don’t like this guy’. And that's OK.

“My goal when I go out of my house is not to say, ‘Oh, today I hope everybody is going to love me’. Because it’s not true. I want to fulfil my values, to take pleasure in what I’m doing and be a respectful man. I can accept criticism and the opinions of people.

“In football, and also in life, you have to understand where you are, and why. When you understand everything, it’s easier to understand some attitudes and reactions. I’m chilled. I don’t take things too personally, positive or negative. So it’s pretty easy to fight against this rhythm of almost constant pressure.

“I go home, I close my door, I close the window (laughs). And nothing comes in. I have people around me who love football and people who don’t care about football. So it’s the perfect mix for me to be a normal person.”

But what is normal life for someone with his fame? Is there a place in the world, anywhere, that he would not be recognised? He can laugh again. “If you have a place, give me the name! I would love to go there.”

Does he ever go anywhere in disguise?

More laughter. “I try many things. But for the moment, I didn’t find (a way) to go somewhere and nobody recognises me. I’d have to change many things. The way I talk, the way I walk, the way I wear things. It’s a long journey.

“Sometimes it is tough because, of course, you cannot reject the support and love that people give you. But you are a human being and just a normal guy who has feelings. I want to protect my people — myself, my family, my friends, my girlfriend, everybody around me. I don’t want to expose them too much.

"I know for people it’s not easy to understand. I doubt myself a lot about this life because it’s the life that I choose. But people have to understand that sometimes you just want to have some moments that are yours. Because when you are a famous person, people know many, many things about your life and you don’t have your moments.”

This is why he makes his “ghost” comment about wanting to occasionally disappear from public view. “There are ups and downs and sometimes you can say, ‘OK, it’s a little bit too much’," he explains. "It helps when you have strong people around you. But I also try to protect (those people) because being in this world is my decision. It’s my responsibility.”

To be clear, these are not the words of someone who has been worn down by fame. On the contrary, he talks enthusiastically about living in Madrid, the challenges of playing for a club with such unflinching expectations, and life in general. It is, he says, “good pressure”. He is happy. Kylian Mbappe loves being Kylian Mbappe.

He also says, more than once, that he just loves football. His eyes light up when he remembers Pele giving him a signed shirt (“an iconic moment”) and he talks boyishly about some of the others in his collection. “Some of the best players in the history of football,” he says. “I still have this passion. The jerseys are iconic. Messi, Cristiano, Neymar, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic — everybody!”

His burning ambition is to win another World Cup because “there is no bigger achievement”. He fell in love with the tournament, aged seven, watching France reach the 2006 final. “You’re a kid and you say, ‘Yeah I want to be there one day, I want to play this type of game, the adrenaline, the atmosphere.’”

First things first, however. His latest Golden Boot will be presented when he reports for international duty this week for his country's Nations League games against Turkey, Belgium and Italy.

“It’s such a pleasure to do it twice, back to back,” he says, reflecting on the summer. “I don’t know if that has ever happened in the history of the game — it’s completely crazy. It’s not something I think about before a competition — I’m conditioned only to win the tournament — but afterwards, of course, when everybody stops you in the street to talk about it, you realise you did something great.”

Can he also do something great with Madrid? After two years without a major trophy, he is acutely aware that “everybody expects something from us”. He and his team-mates are “hungry”, he says, and “can’t wait to fight for every title”. He remains hopeful (though we are speaking before their 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Sunday) and his first impressions of Mourinho have been positive.

“Way before he arrived here, I was really curious about him because he’s been one of the main characters in world football in the last 20 to 25 years. When a guy like this arrives at your club, you can’t wait to see from close up what greatness means. I think you (being from England) have good memories of him making history there. And, for us, it’s such a privilege to have him back.”

As for his fantasy dinner party, who are the five people, from any walk of life, to get an invitation? Michael Jordan is first on the guest list because “he’s inspiring … I met him one time and I would like to meet him more to talk about his career.”

Ronaldo is next because “he used to be my idol, now he’s my friend, and I love to spend time with him … he gives me advice, he supports me and knows I will always support him.”

If Mbappe is in charge of the music, his choice would be French rap (though he also name-checks two British artists, Central Cee and Dave). What would he cook? “I don’t cook,” he says, apologetically. “If I cook, everybody goes home fast. Maybe we can order something?”

And the other guests? “Serena Williams,” he eventually decides. “Because I want to be inspired by people and she’s an athlete I love. Maybe Rihanna next. I like Rihanna! And the last person (blows out cheeks), I don’t know … maybe you?”

What can you do in that position other than accept?

We have been speaking for the best part of an hour and it is almost time to wrap everything up. Before heading home, however, something has caught Mbappe's eye.

The photographs on the wall show Madrid’s previous Ballon d’Or winners. Eight of them: Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Luis Figo, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and, of course, one other.

Mbappe rises from his chair to point out Cristiano Ronaldo — bow tie, big smile, clutching the golden trophy that he won five times — and it hasn't escaped his attention that the wall hasn’t been updated for a couple of years.

His smile is on full beam. “Who knows? Maybe my picture will be there soon. It’s time, it’s time! Maybe this year is a good year for that.”