Kylian Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, has opened up on the emotional cost of her son’s fame, revealing how life in Paris “no longer felt human” under the relentless spotlight. Speaking candidly about the pressures that came with superstardom, she reflected on the loneliness, media obsession and the moment she realised her son had “slipped away” during his Paris Saint-Germain years.
Mbappe’s mother reflects on life under Paris spotlight
The mother of Real Madrid striker Mbappe offered a rare glimpse into the darker side of stardom during an appearance at . The former handball player spoke emotionally about how the intensity of media attention at PSG made daily life almost impossible for her son.
“Kylian in Paris was like a magnifying glass on his flaws; he was no longer human. I had some very low moments,” she revealed. “He can't even walk down the street anymore. It makes me sad.”
Lamari admitted that she never sought fame for her family: “We are not prepared to become public figures.”
AdvertisementGettyHow Mbappe’s rise to stardom affected his family
Lamari also opened up about how quickly life changed after Mbappe’s meteoric rise. Reflecting on the 2018 World Cup, a defining moment for the French forward, she described the emotional toll of watching him ascend to worldwide fame.
“During the 2018 World Cup, I was all alone at home. When I saw him walk down the Champs-Elysees, I knew he was slipping away from me. I went straight from Bondy to Royal Monceau. I felt like we were the Tuche family," she confessed, citing the film Les Tuche, about a poor family that suddenly becomes rich.
From Paris pressure to Real Madrid revival
After years of speculation and tension with PSG, Mbappe finally secured his long-awaited move to Los Blancos in 2024 on a free transfer. His final season at PSG were turbulent, he was benched for refusing to extend his contract and faced an increasingly strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy.
Although his first season at Madrid ended without a major trophy despite scoring 44 goals, Mbappe’s form has soared under new coach Xabi Alonso. The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in 10 matches this season, contributing more than half of Madrid’s total goals so far.
GettyThe road ahead for Mbappe
Despite briefly limpig off with a knock against Villarreal, Mbappe’s injury was not serious, and he has joined up with the France squad for their October fixtures facing Azerbaijan and Iceland. The French striker appears to have found a balance between success and serenity that once seemed out of reach in Paris.