Then, in Monaco, when his opening goal of the return leg put the Ligue 1 side on the front foot, eventually knocking Pep Guardiola’s side out of the tournament, if you didn’t believe the hype, you were certainly coming around.
Mbappé’s strike against Troyes last season helped him break Thierry Henry’s record as the club’s youngest ever goalscorer, grabbing the kid some attention, but no one predicted the level of performances that would come next.
A double against SM Caen at the weekend took his tally to 12 league goals this term. Add in his Champions League performances and he has found the net 14 times. In his last nine games, he has been on fire, scoring 11 times. Just like Monaco this campaign, the 18-year-old is almost unstoppable.
With every blistering run, drifting past defenders like they are running in slow motion, or scoring every type of goal you can imagine, interest in the teenager continues to grow.
Kylian Mbappe-Lottin in action with John Stones
Kylian Mbappe in against Man City

“Of course we follow him,” said Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger when asked about Mbappé earlier in the season. “We know him very well, and he is developing well. I think he has extended his contract last season with Monaco, so it’s Monaco who will decide about his future. He could be another Thierry Henry.”
Contracted till 2019, Monaco are in a much stronger position than where they were when Anthony Martial left for Manchester United on the very last day of the transfer window.
"The financial situation wasn't the same [when Martial left], said Vadim Vasilyev, Monaco’s vice-president told L’Equipe. “We had a big deficit in 2015, there was Financial Fair Play to think about, and we needed to sell.”
"With this qualification [for the quarter-finals], our budget is balanced and we don't need money. We can treat matters case by case. There's an ongoing project based around Kylian."
That won’t stop the interest and the rumours and even Vasilyev himself admitted as with anything in life, nothing is guaranteed.
Mbappe has been called up to train with the national side
He was originally thought to be a winger, but this term he has shown that he has the power and awareness around the penalty area to become a wonderful centre-forward.
When given space, he loves to drift wide left and either power down the wing, or cut inside on to his right-foot. Once he gets into the box, he’s proved time and time again he has the composure and accuracy of a deadly striker.
Most importantly, he looks to have his head firmly fixed on mature shoulders.
"Sorry, but I do not look at what the English press say," he admitted when asked about the rumours of a move. "I remain very calm around this attention I get.”
"I get up in the morning and I go to practice like everyone else. I try to work to improve myself every day and I try to do on the pitch what I do during the training sessions.”
Mbappe after scoring against Caen
After the Champions League tie against City, it was suggested that Manchester United had pushed Mbappé to the top of their wanted list. Antoine Griezmann was their No.1, but as the France international looks set to stay at Atletico Madrid, attention has turned to the 18-year-old.
It’s difficult to see where he would fit under Jose Mourinho. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic stays, there’s no way the Portuguese boss, or the Swedish forward would move to a front two. Then, add in Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and there is not a lot of space for another forward, regardless of how talented he may be.
The same can be said for their blue rivals across the city. Gabriel Jesus, once he is fit, is Manchester City’s own striking sensation. With Leroy Sane finding his feet and looking a very impressive signing, plus Raheem Sterling, Kelechi Iheanacho and the unknown future of Sergio Agüero, Mbappé’s playing time would be limited.
Jurgen Klopp’s vibrant, high-paced Liverpool side would look a good fit. He would be able to fit and produce quality and competition from any of the forward positions. The teenager has the pace to match Sadio Mane, the finishing and movement to rival Roberto Firmino and the creativity and dribbling skills of Philippe Coutinho.
Joy for Kylian Mbappe Lottin of Monaco as he puts his side 3-0 ahead during the French National Cup match between Chambly and AS Monaco, Round of 32 on February 1, 2017 in Beauvais, France.
Mbappe has been in sensational form this season
This season, the Reds have struggled when the first-choice trio have been unavailable, but adding Mbappé would give them a superb option all across the attack.
In truth, the Monaco youngster is everything that fans had perhaps hoped they were getting in Divock Origi. It hasn’t worked out for the Belgian forward, and maybe Mbappé would take that into consideration
Arsenal, with the Wenger connection, with their history of signing players from France and, the legacy of Thierry Henry, start in a strong position.
Regardless of their form and the poor place the club currently finds themselves, they actually represent the best chance the young Frenchman will get to play consistent minutes.
The futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil are still up in the air, but signing Mbappé would signify a coup that they are still a big pull in England.

Arsene Wenger revealed Arsenal tried to sign Mbappe last summer
The Under-19 European Champion could play beside Sanchez, on the wing, or on his own up front. However, a lack of Champions League football would be a deterrent. Also, the fact that no matter what happens with Wenger this season, he will be leaving in the near distant future, that could put the young forward off making that move.
When you look back at what Henry and David Trezeguet, both who came through at Monaco, achieved as a young forward, even they can’t compete with Mbappé’s numbers


This season, he is scoring a goal every 81.6 minutes, when he was 20 years old, Trezeguet’s return was a goal every 101 minutes. The current Monaco kid is out-scoring Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema when they were the same age.
There are no guarantees that anyone’s career is going to follow a route to greatness, but the newly called up France international has positioned himself beautifully to become the next great forward in European football.
Premier League clubs will have competition. Barcelona were mentioned to be monitoring his growth, plus the lure of Real Madrid may be a strong link to break.
Mbappe idolised Cristiano Ronaldo growing up
"He almost signed for Real Madrid but then he went to Monaco," Zinedine Zidane admitted in a recent press conference.
''I can't speak about this. We know he's a good player, what he's doing at his age is fantastic, but that's it. What I'm interested in is what we are going to do tomorrow. But he was about to sign here, yes."
With posters of Cristiano Ronaldo on Mbappé’s bedroom wall as a young kid, and Zidane continuing to seduce him, it will be hard to resist if they make a move.
Real Madrid’s frontline are ageing, and with tired legs appearing, a move to the Spanish capital might offer the best route to stardom. He’d also briefly be able to play beside his hero and that might trump anything the Premier League giants can offer.
(Metro,UK)