Kylian Mbappe, the French football star who is currently considered the best forward in the world, has a physique that is well-suited for sports. Despite being only 24 years old, he has already achieved remarkable success in the world of football. However, when it comes to standing next to basketball players, who often have imposing physiques, Mbappe pales in comparison.
Recently, there have been jokes that Mbappe might be overshadowed by rising basketball star Victor Wembanyama, who is set to join the NBA. Many viewers even compared Mbappe to a “primary school student” standing next to “high school student” Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, a 19-year-old French basketball player, currently stars for the Metropolitans 92 in France’s top basketball league, LNB Pro A. In 2022, he became a champion of France’s top professional basketball league alongside ASVEL, was twice named to the All-Star Team, and won three awards for best young player in LNB.
A young and talented player, Wembanyama is often referred to as the “Mbappe of basketball,” standing at an impressive height of 2.26 meters. When faced with a player nearly half a meter taller than him, Mbappe was taken aback but still shook hands with his younger counterpart.
The meeting between Mbappe and Wembanyama sparked much conversation among French viewers, with one Twitter user jokingly saying, “Mbappe’s neck hurt after a two-minute conversation.” Another user commented, “Mbappe expressed admiration for a player for the first time.”
Wembanyama is slated to join the San Antonio Spurs, an NBA team, on June 22. The 19-year-old player has already earned the respect of LeBron James, a legendary NBA player currently playing for the LA Lakers, who described Wembanyama as a “basketball alien.” James also noted, “No one has ever seen anyone as tall and agile as him (Wembanyama). He is definitely a new talent in the NBA.”
