Mbappe honours AFCON, visits Morocco for ‘best friend’

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé showed his appreciation for African football by making a surprise appearance in Morocco to watch the Atlas Lions in action at AFCON 2025.

The French forward, currently enjoying a holiday break from LaLiga, was present in the stands as Morocco faced Mali, thanks to his close personal ties and the growing global appeal of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mbappé’s visit followed a personal invitation from Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, his close friend and former PSG teammate.

Photos of the World Cup winner wearing Hakimi’s No. 2 Morocco jersey quickly spread online, capturing the strength of their bond forged during their time together in Paris.

Reports also suggested that another former PSG teammate, Ousmane Dembélé, was in attendance, adding further star power to the occasion.

On the pitch, Hakimi dispelled concerns over an ankle issue by training at full intensity ahead of the match. Morocco, who opened their AFCON 2025 campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Comoros, were keen to maintain momentum against a Mali side that had drawn 1-1 with Zambia.

Mbappé’s presence in the stands served as a powerful endorsement of AFCON, reinforcing its status as a tournament that commands attention far beyond the African continent.

Mbappé’s connection to Morocco goes beyond friendship, with the Real Madrid forward also sharing a dressing room with Atlas Lions star Brahim Díaz.

The midfielder once again proved decisive for the hosts, opening the scoring with a late first-half penalty against Mali. It was Díaz’s second goal of the competition, having already netted Morocco’s opener in their first group match against Comoros.

While enjoying his break, Mbappé arrived in Morocco on the back of a historic year with Real Madrid, finishing 2025 with an astonishing 59 goals in 59 games.

That remarkable tally saw him match the club record held by his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. His decision to spend part of his holiday at AFCON, supporting Hakimi and Morocco, highlighted not only personal loyalty but also the tournament’s ability to attract and inspire the biggest names in world football.