Kylian Mbappé and William Saliba share more than just being French internationals — their connection goes back to childhood.
They both grew up in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, and Mbappé’s father actually coached Saliba at youth level. This early link formed a friendship and mutual respect that carries through into their professional careers.
In interviews, Mbappé has spoken highly of Saliba’s development at Arsenal, especially during the 2023-24 season when the defender became one of Arsenal’s defensive pillars. Mbappé described Saliba as:
“A very important player for Arsenal — acknowledging his influence at club level,
“Among the best centre-backs in the Premier League” — which is high praise given the competitiveness of the league.
This wasn’t just casual praise — it reflected Mbappé’s genuine recognition of Saliba’s quality and consistency throughout a long season.
A Humble Admission: Saliba
Perhaps the strongest public endorsement came when Mbappé was voted French Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season. After being named the winner, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging that Saliba “would have deserved it too”, suggesting that the Arsenal defender’s performances that season merited serious consideration for France’s top individual honour.
Finishing second in the voting with only a handful of points behind Mbappé was already a remarkable achievement for a defender — and Mbappé’s own comments reinforced just how highly he thinks of Saliba.
Mbappe Praise for Saliba’s Quality and Career Path
“This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League. He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus.” — on Saliba’s development at Arsenal and potential with the French national team.
On the French Player of the Year Award
“You have to be fair, William Saliba would also have deserved this trophy.” — after being named France Footballer of the Year for 2023-24, Mbappé acknowledged that Saliba’s performances were worthy of the honour too.
On Their History and Friendship
Although not a straight “praise” quote, Mbappé has spoken warmly about their shared background, which underscores his admiration: “I have known him since he was very, very young… Seeing him in the national team, going from Bondy to Les Bleus, made me really happy. I tried to integrate him into the group as quickly as possible.”
While Mbappé hasn’t made broad comments about many Arsenal stars, his repeated praise of William Salib— noting his importance at Arsenal, his status among the top defenders in England, and his worthiness for major awards — is significant. It reflects both respect for a teammate and appreciation for how well Saliba has progressed in the game.