Kylian Mbappe is a household name all over the world. Yet, your favorite soccer star wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for his father, Wilfried Mbappe.
Read on to learn more about Wilfried Mbappe’s early life, career, net worth, and social media presence.
Who Is Wilfried Mbappe?
Wilfried Mbappe is the father of two professional soccer players and a future one. He’s most well-known for being the man who raised global superstar, Kylian Mbappe. He also coached the PSG star in his youth and is now his agent.
Here are some basic facts about Wilfried Mbappe:
Full Name | Wilfried Mbappe |
Date of Birth | October 11th, 1970 |
Age | 53 Years Old |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Place of Birth | Douala, Cameroon |
Current Residence Place | Paris, France |
Nationality | French, Cameroonian |
Ethnic Background | African |
Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
Religion | Christianity |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
No. of Siblings | Six |
Spouse | Fayza Lamari |
Relationship Status | Separated |
Children | Kylian Mbappe, Ethan Mbappe, Jires Kembo Ekoko |
Profession | Soccer coach and agent |
Net Worth | $28 million |
Wilfried Mbappe’s Early Life
Before his name became known worldwide thanks to his son’s success, Wilfried Mbappe’s story had humble beginnings.
He was born in Douala, Cameroon on October 11th, 1970 but didn’t spend much of his childhood there. As soon as Wilfried was born, his parents took him to France, where they’d migrated themselves years earlier.
Wilfried’s parents have six other children, but we don’t know much about them. We also don’t know the details of Wilfried’s education. Yet, it’s believed that he completed high school and might’ve graduated from university too.
As he entered his 20s, Wilfried decided to pursue his professional soccer dreams.
Wilfried Mbappe’s Career
Although he couldn’t quite make it to soccer’s highest level, Wilfried Mbappe forged a short-lived career in France’s lower divisions.
He started his career in 1991 as a defender for AS Bondy, a club in the French Regional Divisions. After one season there he bounced around other regional clubs, such as Le Blanc-Mesnil, Stade Saint-Denis, and AS Verrieres.
Mbappe spent a season at each of these clubs. Unfortunately, the injury bug plagued him and he wasn’t able to overcome it. This forced him to call it quits in 1995.
His journey in soccer wasn’t over yet though. He still pursued his passion for the game through coaching. In 1998, he became a member of AS Bondy’s coaching staff and embarked on a coaching career that lasted much longer than his playing days.
Between 1998 and 2009, Mbappe had coaching roles with Roissy-en-Brie, Poissy, and US Torcy, as well as multiple stints with AS Bondy.
Currently, Wilfried Mbappe acts as the agent of his son, Kylian, who’s one of the biggest names in world soccer.
Wilfried Mbappe’s Personal Life
During his time in France, Wilfried Mbappe met his future wife, Fayza Lamari. She was an athlete too, but wasn’t involved in soccer. Instead, she was a successful handball player. Lamari’s parents were also immigrants to France but from Algerian roots.
We don’t know much about how and when Mbappe and Lamari started dating, but it was clear that they were deeply in love.
Their love ultimately led to them tying the knot in a private ceremony.
During their marriage, Mbappe and Lamari had two children together, Kylian and Ethan. They also adopted a third child, Jires Kembo Ekoko, when he was six years old.
The couple are now separated for unknown reasons. Speculations about their split revolve around disputes between them as agents for their son, Kylian.
Wilfried Mbappe’s Sons
Wilfried Mbappe’s sons have all followed in his footsteps and pursued careers in professional soccer.
They’ve all already surpassed the success their father had as a player.
Here’s an overview of each of their journeys:
Kylian Mbappe
If you have even the slightest interest in soccer, Kylian Mbappe needs no introduction. The Paris Saint Germain and French national team star has achieved virtually every accolade in soccer at the tender age of 24.
He’s led PSG to five Ligue 1 championships and is a three-time French Cup winner. The young star is already the club’s all-time leading goal scorer and is third on the all-time assists rankings.
Mbappe also spearheaded the French national team’s victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and came painfully close to doing it again in 2022.
His start also began at AS Bondy, where he was coached by his father.
Ethan Mbappe
Wilfried’s other biological son, Ethan, is only 16 years old. Even though he’s still in PSG’s youth program, he’s shown plenty of promise and experts expect him to become a star on the senior team.
Fans already got a taste of this when Ethan made his debut in the big leagues in December 2022.
Where did Ethan get his start?
Yes, you guessed it. He developed in AS Bondy with his father as the coach.
Jires Kembo Ekoko
Although he isn’t as famous as his siblings, Jires Kembo Ekoko has had a stellar career in his own right.
He started his journey with French club Stade Rennais F.C. in 2006. After six years there as a striker, he moved on to the UAE Pro League where he spent three years between Al Ain FC and Al-Nasr SC.
His next, and last, stop was in Turkey with Bursaspor.
Wilfried Mbappe’s Net Worth
Wilfried Mbappe’s net worth isn’t officially published, but we estimate it to be around $28 million.
While Wilfried has made a substantial amount from his playing and coaching careers, most of his wealth comes from being his son’s agent.
Kylian Mbappe has signed some of the biggest contracts in soccer history in recent years. As his agent, Wilfried takes a slice.
Wilfried Mbappe’s Social Media Presence
If you search for Wilfried Mbappe on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you’ll come up empty. The 53-year-old isn’t a fan of social media and prefers to keep his personal life under wraps.
In contrast, his sons have massive followings on Instagram, especially Kylian. His Instagram account has a whopping 109 million followers. This isn’t to mention the 102 million followers he has on Twitter.
The youngest of the Mbappes, Ethan, also has millions of Instagram followers.
Conclusion
Soccer fans around the globe should all thank Wilfried Mbappe. Without him, one of soccer’s most prolific goal scorers ever wouldn’t exist.
The man who raised and taught Kylian Mbappe soccer is also a former player and coach himself. Long after retirement, he’s still impacting the game through his sons.