Kylian Mbappé stole the show as France beat Argentina 4-3 in a thrilling outing in the first of the last 16 fixtures on Saturday.
The kid is on some other level, and you can whisper it, but he’s being compared to Pele.
Mostly because he became the youngest player since Pele in 1958 to score two goals in a World Cup match.
But there’s something else worth noting about Mbappe – he’s got African roots.
We know, Africa is not a country, but when it comes to World Cup, support is often thrown behind teams from the entire continent.
Shakira wasn’t wrong when she bellowed: “This time for Africa”. Oh and remember the opening goal of the 2010 World Cup?
“A goal for all of Africa”.
So, if you’re looking for a team to throw your support behind, France, now the youngest side at the tournament when Nigeria booted out, Les Blues has plenty of players who have roots on the mother continent.
1. Presnel Kimpembe – Congo
Kimpembe was born in France, but his father is Congolese.
2. Samuel Umtiti
Born in Cameroon and Roger Milla even tried to get him to play for Cameroon.
3. Paul Pogba
Born in France to two Guinean parents.
4. Kylian Mbappé
Born in France to a Cameroonian father and Algerian mother.
5. Ousmane Dembélé
Born in France. His mother is French, but of Mauritanian and Senegalese descent, while his father is from Mali.
6. Corentin Tolisso
Born in France, but has connections to Togo through his parents. In 2016, Togo manager Claude Le Roy tried to get him to play for the African side, but Tolisso declined.
7. N’Golo Kanté
Born in France, both his parents are from Mali. Kanté was approached by Mali ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations having not played for France in any of their age group teams. But he said no.
8. Blaise Matuidi
Born in France to an Angolan father and Congolese mother.
9. Steven Nzonzi
Born in France with Congolese parental heritage. He declined playing for Congo twice. His father did, however, once ask if he was eligible to play for England back in 2016. He wasn’t, though having already represented France at age group level.
10. Steve Mandanda
Born in the DRC and moved to France when he was a teenager.
11. Adil Rami
Born on the French island of Corsica to Moroccan parents.
12. Nabil Fekir
Born in France to Algerian Parents. He was named in Algeria’s squad for friendlies against Oman and Qatar in March 2015. However, he withdrew to take part in the French squad for friendlies against Brazil and Denmark.
13. Djibril Sidibé
He has links to Mali, but was born in France.
14. Benjamin Mendy
Born in France to Senegalese parents. He decided to represent France and made his senior debut in March 2017.
Source: The South African