But it all started with another Real Madrid icon!

Fayza Lamari//Kylian Mbappe / Tribuna.com Collage: Herbert//L’Equipe

Kylian Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, has offered a fascinating glimpse into her son’s childhood idols — and Cristiano Ronaldo clearly takes center stage.

Speaking about Kylian’s teenage years, she explained just how deeply her son admired the Portuguese superstar:

“It started with Zidane, from the age of 4. Then came CR7 when he joined Manchester and later Real Madrid. There were also Robinho, Ronaldinho… With Cristiano, Kylian thought he was Portuguese in his head. For him, he was Portuguese. He used to go to a friend’s father’s house to watch Portugal’s matches and support Ronaldo. (Laughs). He was in love. He would say: ‘I’m Portuguese.’”

That obsession shaped Mbappe’s mindset long before he became one of the world’s biggest football stars. As his mother recalls, watching Portugal play wasn’t just about enjoying football — it was about following Cristiano Ronaldo religiously. Mbappe didn’t just admire Ronaldo; he identified with him, imagining himself as Portuguese just to strengthen that connection.

Zidane: The First Idol

While Cristiano became the figure who dominated Mbappe’s teenage years, Zidane had laid the foundation much earlier. From the age of four, the French legend was the first to inspire young Kylian. Zidane represented both French pride and Real Madrid excellence — two things that would later define Mbappe’s own career.

From Childhood Obsession to Professional Parallels

Fast-forward to today, and Mbappe’s journey has brought him to Real Madrid, the very club where both of his idols became icons. Zidane shaped his earliest dreams, but it was Ronaldo who set the benchmark for what Mbappe wanted to achieve. Now, the French forward is living those ambitions, carrying the torch of both legends while creating his own story at the Santiago Bernabeu.