​Kylian Mbappé’s family includes two brothers who are pursuing professional football in their own right. His younger brother, Ethan Mbappé, is making his mark in Ligue 1 with Lille, continuing the family’s football tradition. His older brother, Jirès Kembo Ekoko, concluded a notable 13-year professional career in 2019, having played for clubs such as Rennes and Al Nasr.
Jirès Kembo Ekoko was adopted by the Mbappé family after moving to France from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He began his football journey in France when he joined the AS Bondy youth system at age nine, with both of his brothers eventually following in his footsteps into the sport. Although the three did not all overlap at AS Bondy, Ethan and Kylian did eventually share the field at Paris Saint‑Germain from 2023 to 2024, before Kylian transferred to Real Madrid and Ethan moved to Lille.
Kylian Mbappé, widely regarded as one of the world’s most famous athletes, has brothers who have supported him throughout his ascent. In 2017, when Kylian won the Golden Boy Award as Europe’s best under-21 talent—a list that includes stars such as Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, and Lamine Yamal—Jirès congratulated him on Instagram, writing in French, “It’s only the beginning #proud 🙌🏾.” Ethan likewise expressed his support when Kylian left Paris Saint‑Germain in 2024 to join Real Madrid.
Jirès Kembo Ekoko’s father, Kembo Uba Kembo, was a soccer player who represented his country at the 1974 World Cup. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jirès signed with AS Bondy’s French youth program at the age of nine in 1997. He went on to enjoy a 13-year professional career with clubs including Rennes and Al Nasr before retiring in 2019.
The Bondy connection was pivotal for the Mbappé brothers. It did more than launch a professional career for Jirès; it inspired both Kylian and Ethan to join the same youth club. Kylian played at Bondy from 2004 to 2013, and Ethan later joined the ranks from 2015 to 2017. Kylian has spoken about the deeper lessons learned at Bondy, emphasizing values that extend beyond football. In a 2020 letter published in The Players’ Tribune, he wrote to “the young Kylians” that Bondy teaches you to treat everyone with equality because you all share the same dream. This sense of community and shared purpose helped shape not only their careers but the supportive dynamic that has defined the Mbappé brothers as they continue to pursue excellence on football’s biggest stages.