French international Kylian Mbappé has come under fire for his perceived lack of connection to Algeria, the country of his maternal origins.
The criticism comes from influential French rapper Booba, who expressed his disappointment with Mbappé’s apparent neglect of his African roots.
In an interview with CKO, Booba did not hold back in voicing his frustrations.
The rapper, who is regarded as one of France’s most iconic figures in music, claimed that the Real Madrid forward has failed to represent his Algerian heritage.
He pointed out that Mbappé’s mother, Fayza Lamari, hails from Algeria, yet the football star has not publicly acknowledged his ties to the North African country.
Booba, in particular, took issue with Mbappé’s failure to visit Algeria or comment on the country’s achievement in winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2019.
He said, “I thought he was going to represent his African roots: I had too many expectations. He didn’t even go to Algeria.
It’s unacceptable. He didn’t even tweet when Algeria won the AFCON.
He doesn’t represent at all, he’s uninteresting. I thought he was going to be a muse of the suburbs, guys like us.
That’s why I (don’t) like him, quite simply.
The rapper’s remarks reflect a broader expectation that Mbappé, one of the world’s most successful footballers, would embrace his heritage and play a role in fostering stronger ties with the African community.
His lack of public support for Algeria, especially after their triumph on home soil in 2019, has disappointed some fans and public figures alike.
A visit that never happened
Mbappé has defended himself against these criticisms, explaining that he had actually planned a visit to Algeria last summer.
According to reports, his mother, Fayza Lamari, had made several preparatory trips to Algeria ahead of Mbappé’s anticipated arrival.
💬 Quand Booba 𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗘 Kylian Mbappé au sujet 𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀… 😬🇨🇲🇩🇿
« Je pensais qu’il allait représenter ses racines africaines : j’ai eu trop d’attentes. 𝗜𝗹 𝗻’𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲̂𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲́ 𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗴𝗲́𝗿𝗶𝗲.… pic.twitter.com/wrXLt95Ljb
— 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗗𝘇𝗮𝗶𝗿 🇩🇿💫 (@arobasedzair2) December 23, 2024
However, his transfer to Real Madrid made the timing of the visit difficult, and the trip ultimately did not take place.
Despite the missed visit to Algeria, Mbappé did make headlines last year when he travelled to Cameroon, his father’s homeland.
During his visit, he even played in a friendly match with a second-division team managed by tennis icon Yannick Noah, who also hails from the region.
Mbappé’s relationship with his African roots continues to stir debate.
While the Parisian-born player has achieved immense success in his career, the expectations placed on him to embrace both his French and Algerian heritage remain a source of tension for some.
The 2018 World Cup winner’s response to such criticism will be keenly watched, as the conversation about representation and identity in sports continues to evolve.
