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Kylian Mbappe's mother has revealed the toll fame has taken on the Frenchman in recent years, admitting 'it saddens me'.
The superstar shot to fame while still playing for Monaco as just an 18-year-old, well and truly announcing himself to the world with two goals against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the Champions League.
Just a year later and Mbappe, who had already earned comparisons to the great Thierry Henry, was starring for his country at the World Cup in Russia. A goal in the final as France won the tournament solidified his spot among the world's best forwards.
Then came seven prolific years at Paris Saint-Germain which eventually earned Mbappe his dream move to Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
He's netted an impressive 58 goals in 69 appearances for Los Blancos despite enduring a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital.
The 26-year-old's mother, Fayza Lamari, has now opened up about her son's struggles with loneliness and fame since joining arguably the world's biggest club.
Kylian Mbappe's mother Fayza Lamari has revealed the toll fame has taken on the Frenchman since his move to Real Madrid
The 26-year-old 'sometimes goes driving around the ring road' because he can longer walk down the street
Mbappe signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 after spending seven years at PSG
She said at an event in Paris this week: 'I had a discussion with him last year when things weren't going very well. I asked if he didn't want to have a girlfriend.
'He replied, "do you see a woman in this mess?" Sometimes he'd drive around the ring road in a 206 just to see what it was like. He can't even walk down the street anymore. It makes me sad.'
Lamari also revealed the precise moment she realised Mbappe was 'slipping away' to stardom.
'During the 2018 World Cup, I was home along. When I saw him walking down the Champs-Elysees, I knew he was slipping away.
'I called him Justin Bieber because he went straight from Bondy to the Royal Monceau. I felt like he I was in a movie.'
Mbappe himself has too been candid about his struggles since moving to Madrid, admitting he's become 'disgusted' by what goes on in the world of football behind the scenes.
'It's our environment and we can't change it. I'm fatalistic about what the world of football is, but not about what life is. Life is magnificent. Football is what it is,' he told L'Equipe during the summer.
'I like to say that people who go to the stadium are lucky enough to "just" come to see a show and not know what goes on behind the scenes.
Mbappe himself has too been candid about his struggles since moving to the Spanish capital
He's netted an impressive 58 goals in 69 appearances for Los Blancos
'Honestly, if I didn't have this passion, the world of football would have disgusted me a long time ago.'
The forward has been embroiled in a €55million (£46m) legal dispute with PSG over unpaid wages and bonuses, while the reigning European champions claim his contract was 'legally amended' and that he reneged on commitments when he left the club to join Real Madrid on a free.
He also reportedly dropped a harassment case against earlier this year PSG over how he was treated when he revealed he would not be signing a new deal in the summer of 2023.
Mbappe claimed he has only brought his legal claim against PSG to receive ‘what he's owed', with the star stating he had initially been aware he was not being paid fully while at the club.
The French forward has nevertheless not let his off-the-field woes get in the way of his performances on the pitch.
He's netted a stunning 14 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions this term for Xabi Alonso's side, who sit top of LaLiga after eight games.
Mbappe is back in action this week for his country, who face Azerbaijan and Iceland in two World Cup Qualifiers.
