Kylian Mbappé's Mother Fayza Lamari Was Also a Professional Athlete: More about Her

Kylian Mbappé's career as a sports star seemed written in the stars as he was born to a father, Wilfried Mbappé, who also played professional soccer, and a mother, Fayza Lamari, who played Division 1 handball.

Before she was known for being Kylian Mbappé's mother, Fayza Lamari garnered a reputation in the French handball community as a fierce competitor with a bit of an edge. Fayza Lamari's athletic abilities saw her climb the ranks in handball and become one of the best handball players in Bondy, France.

Fayza Lamari and her husband shared a love of sport, and despite raising their son in a French neighborhood known for producing great athletes, Fayza Lamari knew she would love her son no matter what he chose to become.

Fayza Lamari Immigrated from Algeria to France Following the French Genocide in Her Country

Fayza is originally from Algeria but left the North African country following the French genocide that plagued her nation. Her relocation saw Fayza call France her new home, and she grew up in Bondy.

Fayza played basketball when she was younger = but eventually set her sights on handball, and by the late 1990s, she had become one of the best handball players in Bondy. A family friend said:

"She started at the bottom and became one of Bondy's best handball players in the late 1990s. Fayza had charisma. She was one of the leaders of the team, super talented and super tough."

How Fayza Lamari and Her Husband Met

Before welcoming her son, Fayza was an instructor at community centers during school holidays. There, she met her future husband, Wilfried. Like Fayza, Wilfried originated from an African country — Cameroon — and immigrated to France in search of a good job.

However, once in France, Wilfried not only achieved his dream of playing professional soccer but also found love. A friend of the couple revealed, "They both loved sport, liked taking the mickey, and had strong characters. They were bound to be attracted to each other."

Fayza Lamari Said She Would Have Loved Her Son Even If He Hadn't Inherit the Family's Love for Sports

Fayza and her husband later welcomed Kylian, who grew up in Bondy, a neighborhood known for producing successful athletes, soccer stars, and basketball players.

Since childhood, Kylian's father has worried about him not inheriting the family's love for sports. "What if he doesn't like sports?" Wilfriend asked his wife when their son was only a newborn. However, Fayza responded:

"Does it really matter? Kylian can do whatever he wants to do, and we're going to love him no matter what."

Not only did Fayza and her husband's son grow up to love sports, but Kylian has since become a football star and the third-highest goal scorer at Paris Saint-Germain, an iconic French soccer club formerly home to Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Neymar.

Atmane Airouche, the president of the soccer club AS Bondy, stated, "Kylian's personality [...] is because of what his parents gave him. They're people that always had their hands on their hearts. They helped a lot. Not just their children but the children here at the club. For them, it was the same."