Mbappé, the “Mobutu” of the Blues: when the nickname shapes a legend
The nickname “Mobutu” has stuck to Kylian Mbappé since 2022. Return to a label that combines self-deprecation, respect and the aura of a leader in the Blues locker room.
%2F2026%2F07%2F02%2F6a4641e32b155534382082.jpg&w=1920&q=72&output=webp&we)
Since 2022, Kylian Mbappé has had a nickname that has gone beyond social networks to settle in the Blues locker room: “Mobutu”. The former Congolese dictator serves as a reference for his authoritarian leadership, assumed with humor by the French team. The term, popularized online, was adopted by Mbappé's teammates, particularly during national team gatherings.
%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia.solobasket.com%252Fmain%252F2026%252F06%252FNS-Player-Composite-White-Email-SoloBasket.png&w=1920&q=72&output=webp&we)
%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia.solobasket.com%252Fmain%252F2025%252F12%252FNS-Thumbnail-V2-Facebook-11-1.jpg&w=1920&q=72&output=webp&we)
