Both have made their mark on footballing history. One has finished his career, the other is just beginning his. What unites them is love, respect for football and a remarkable destiny. Since the World Cup, an affinity has grown between the two men on social media. Today, Hublot brings them together for the very first time, marking a passing of the baton and a moment of recognition between the greatest player of all time and the most promising hope in world football. King Pelé, a Hublot ambassador since 2013, has crossed the Atlantic to meet Kylian Mbappé, the watch brand’s newest ambassador.
The paths of these two men show uncanny similarities. There are 60 years between Pelé’s first World Cup and that of Mbappé. They are renowned for breaking records, both as forwards who have made speed their trademark. They both won the first World Cup they played in and they were the youngest players (Pelé was 17 years old, Mbappé was 19) to score in and win a World Cup, both while wearing the number 10 jersey. In 1958, Pelé wore this jersey by chance; for Mbappé, 60 years later, it was a choice.
Pelé and Mbappé are two timeless, devoted and esteemed symbols of the world’s most unifying sport, two generations with shared values: humility, generosity, perseverance.
" The generosity of Pelé and Kylian can be seen in their eyes, as can their love of football ", said Ricardo Guadalupe CEO of Hublot. " This flame, this inextinguishable strength, is what drives these two great champions. They are inspiring new generations of footballers and writing the history of football, so it was perfectly natural to bring them together. Having them in our family is a great source of pride and pleasure, because before being football stars, they are above all great men who command respect. "
" I am honoured to have the opportunity to personally meet Kylian ", Pelé declared. " He embodies the new generation of footballers and espouses the values of a sport that inspires and unites the world. I am happy that he symbolises hope; the hope that anything is possible, for the dreams we must believe in and fight for, regardless of our origins or our social status. For me, the key to success can be captured in two words: humility and perseverance. That is the message that the new generation must convey, and Kylian has perfectly understood this. "
" I have learned that the biggest stars and the best players are the most humble and respectful, those who are able to keep their feet on the ground ", Mbappé confessed. " Respect, humility and lucidity are values that my parents passed down to me and they are values that I am proud to now share with my adopted family, Hublot, and King Pelé, who perfectly embodies what my parents have always taught me —to be a great footballer, you must first and foremost be a great man. "
