Why France’s World Cup star is giving his winnings away

France’s wonderboy, Kylian Mbappe, has captured the headlines this week for being the youngest ever French player to score in the World Cup.

The forward, who regularly plays for Paris Saint Germain, at the tender age of 19 helped his nation’s side go through to the quarter-finals to be played this Friday against Uruguay. While this is no doubt an impressive feat, what Mbappe has been doing off the pitch is equally, well, we think more so, impressive.

It came to light in a recent article in L’Equipe that the soccer player will be giving any bonuses earned from his matches in the World Cup to a charity close to his heart: the Premiers de Cordée, an association that helps children with disabilities have access to sport. If France does win the coveted cup then this could reach the sizeable sum of around $350,000 in total.

#AllezLesBleus#DENFRA#FIFA18WorldCup#FiersdetreBleus@KMbappe@equipedefrance

📸 @pfauquembergpic.twitter.com/y1ExcpMPgS

— Premiers de Cordée (@PremiersdCordee) June 26, 2018

Although his act is obviously generous, the player and patron of the charity, who is admired by so many youngsters, actually takes the time out of his schedule to meet up with these children in need, inspiring them with a few of his soccer skills. “He is very good with the children and always finds the right words to encourage them,” shared the charity’s director general Sebastien Ruffin with ESPN.

But this is nothing new for the young 19-year-old forward who usually plays for top French team Paris Saint Germain. According to L’Equipe, his lawyers have recently made arrangements with the football federation to give any earnings gained from any international matches outside of the World Cup to various other charities — a regular game earns Mbappe approximately $23,000.

Fellow teammates allude to the reasoning behind Mbappe’s decision. The French center back, Samuel Umtiti, believes: “When playing a World Cup, it’s a pleasure, because it’s a dream come true,” adding, “So yes, there is money at stake. But I do not care. I do not play for that.”

Whether other players follow Mbappe’s example or not, we can only praise such a young man’s sense of charity. Considering he is idolized by so many youngsters, and oldsters alike, we hope his actions can inspire others to help those in need, even if it is just to encourage them to kick a ball about (soccer, or football!).

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