At just 24 years old and on top of the soccer world, Kylian Mbappe is unlikely to follow Lionel Messi to MLS anytime soon.
But when the French superstar decides to move to the States, all evidence points to him settling in smoothly.
Mbappe was seen grabbing shoulders with a party-goer at Michael Rubin’s Fourth of July party in the Hamptons, which was attended by the likes of Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Jay-Z.
And he is far from the first example of Mbappe integrating himself into American culture.
The prolific scorer has been known to vacation in both New York and Los Angeles, with both locations providing him with a glimpse into the American sports scene.
Mbappe hung out with the likes of Micah Parsons (left) and Lil Bibi (center) at a recent party
NBA icon LeBron James and Kylian Mbappe have formed a bond in recent years
Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi pose for a photo with Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant in January
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After a breakout 33-goal season with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018-19, Mbappe threw first pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, scoring field goals at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium during another trip in 2022.
Mbappe has also been in the Big Apple at least twice in the past year in addition to that.
He attended the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center, showing off his pop-a-shot basketball skills, before returning in January this year.
At the time, he and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Achraf Hakimi sat on the court as the Brooklyn Nets beat the San Antonio Spurs, and stood with former team star Kevin Durant after the win.
The duo even took on shows at a local mall — American Dream — in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey — where they filmed on roller coasters and privately rented the on-site water park.
But while Mbappe has enjoyed some lighter activities in the US, he has business ties with the country.
His production company Zebra Valley was announced as an NBA partner last year, with plans to “create original NBA content for fans around the world.”
Mbappe, who has been endorsed by Nike, also has a common stud with LeBron James and was a Time magazine cover star.
The striker and fellow brand James have been in a relationship since sitting on The Basketball Superstar’s ‘More Than An Athlete World Tour’ in 2018, where they talked about dealing with teenage fame, among other topics.
The duo also exchanged selfies in 2021 before calling the Lakers star Mbappe ‘one of the greatest players ever’ before France lost to Argentina in last year’s World Cup final.
Mbappe and Hakimi (center left) entertain themselves at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey
Mbappe was photographed with model Grace Adele at Michael Rubin’s party in the Hamptons
Mbappe was also in New York last year for the 2022 edition of the NBA, and walked the red carpet
It was no surprise that Mbappe, a strong favorite to win the Ballon d’Or this year, commanded the respect of his fellow athletes.
But he also has the linguistic abilities that many modern stars possess admirably.
In addition to his native French, Mbappe can speak both Spanish and English, so it’s not hard to imagine him as a seasoned 35-year-old answering questions from the US media after an MLS match.
However, even with Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba apparently joining Inter Miami, there is a lot Mbappe has to accomplish in Europe before he moves to the US.
There’s his long-awaited move to Real Madrid – expected next summer at the latest – where he’s joined arguably the biggest club in the world and linked up with fellow young stars like Vinicius Jr and Jody Bellingham.
The 2018 World Cup winner will also want to win the Champions League after losing the final in 2019 and being knocked out in the round of 16 in his last two seasons with PSG.
Mbappe’s possible arrival in the MLS should not be seen as a distant relative, but Messi’s move to the league could change the answer to an interesting question: How early in their careers will the superstar hopefuls start thinking about America?
Messi and Sergio Busquets could open the door for other stars to join MLS in the future
Mbappe will be 27 in 2026, but he will have spent 11 years playing football in Europe by then.
At the age of 36, Messi is nearing the end of his career, although Lorenzo Insigne’s agreement to join Toronto FC at the age of 30 was seen as a major coup, while Antoine Griezmann was already considering MLS when he was just 30 years old. Age 29 years.
Mbappe will only be 27 when the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the USA, but with the Copa América and Club World Cup also coming to the US – not to mention the arrival of an Argentine No. 10 – there could be really rapid growth for the tournament. sport in a short period of time.
By the time Mbappe and his France team-mates start the next World Cup, he will have spent the last 11 years playing football at a senior level in Europe.
Is it crazy to imagine Mbappe – perhaps after amassing some Ballon d’Or and Champions League victories – getting itching for a new chapter in MLS?
A little bit, but the same thought applies to Messi.
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