French superstar Kylian Mbappe has earned fans worldwide for his astonishing records in leagues and international football. Mbappe, who won the FIFA World Cup at the age of 19, boosted his fan base with a stunning hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. While addressing the Indian community in France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing popularity of Mbappe in India.
PM Modi arrived in Paris on Thursday for a two-day visit after being invited by French President Emmanuel Macron as a Guest of Honour to attend the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. Speaking to the Indian diaspora at La Seine Musicale in the French capital on Thursday, he spoke about various subjects, including the growing involvement of overseas athletes in Indian sports.
While hailing France’s national football team’s captain as a ‘superhit’, Modi said the striker is more popular in Indian villages than in his homeland. “French football player Kylian Mbappe is superhit among the youth in India. Mbappe is probably known to more people in India than in France,” he said.
Mbappe is considered one of the best players of the current era and his dribbling skills, exceptional speed, and finishing always keep him at the top. As mentioned by the Indian Prime Minister, the 24-year-old has a sensational fan base among the Indian youth, who have shown an overwhelming passion for the sport in recent years. The video of PM Modi‘s speech was shared by ANI on their official Twitter account.
Watch the video below:
#WATCH | French football player Kylian Mbappe is superhit among the youth in India. Mbappe is probably known to more people in India than in France, said PM Modi, in Paris pic.twitter.com/fydn9tQ86V
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2023
PM Modi reflects on longstanding relationship with France
Apart from sports, Modi also discussed various topics in his captivating speech. He reflected on his profound relationship with the European nation. He also took the opportunity to speak about the Alliance Franchise in Ahmedabad, Gujarat nearly 40 years ago and mentioned that he was the first member of the cultural center in India.
“The national anthem of France says Let’s March, Let’s March and in our country also the mantra which has been inspiring us since Vedic times is Charaiveti, Charaiveti. We are going to see the same sentiment in the National Day Parade tomorrow as well,” PM Modi added.
Here’s how fans reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark on Kylian Mbappe:
Sir, before you went to France, did you even know who Mbappe was?
— Anindita Banerjee (@AninditaB_AB) July 13, 2023
Modiji we Football fans in India want proper football stadium in India… Pls listen to us ???
— Tahchapa (@Lalskuki1) July 14, 2023
Modi ji ye jada ho gaya
— Rohit Singh???? (@rohit_fomo) July 14, 2023
Most Indians dont even know Messi , Ronaldo and never even seen them play once in their life time in metros like #Hyderabad #bangalore#mumbai.
You are claiming rural Indians know #Mbappe..joke
If thats the case @IndianFootball would be under Top 25 in world not lamenting at 100— krsnasena? (@krsna_sena) July 13, 2023
Indian villages me light nhi hai modiji, fans kahan se milenge
— astroHk (@harshkr1396) July 14, 2023
Agar itne sare fan India me he to achchha stadium bhi banana chahiye….
— Sam Patel (@DrSam1234) July 14, 2023
Even Modiji didn't knew who is mbappe before his visit to France ?
— ????? ????? ?? ? (@mohunbaganlad) July 13, 2023
That's absolutely true, especially after what he did at FIFA-2022 WC. Magician! ?
— Sagar Jamane (@JamaneSagar) July 14, 2023
Meanwhile Manikpur – zara aapne grehbann mai bhi jhak kar tu dekho.
— Naveed Ahmed ???? ???? ?? (@NavidAhmed67) July 13, 2023
