Philippe Auclair: plotting the path of Kylian Mbappé

French football writer Phiippe Auclair discusses his latest book, The Mbappé Project: Making a Football Superstar, about the careful orchestration of the career of France icon Kylian Mbappé.

Philippe explains how Mbappé’s family and a tight-knit group of advisers have set a professional and commercial course from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, and discusses how the complications of that club career have affected perceptions of the FIFA World Cup-winning striker.

He also explores the differences between Mbappé’s public profile and those of earlier French heroes – including the likes of Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry, subjects of previous Auclair biographies – and what that might tell us about footballers and the media in 2026. 

Outlines is presented, produced and edited by Eoin Connolly.

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