They have left their mark on the history of football. One has finished his career, the other is beginning his. What unites them is love and respect for football, and exceptional destiny. There has already been an affinity between the two men on social media since the World Cup.
Today, Hublot brings them together for the first time. A passing of the baton, a moment of recognition, between the best player of all time and the greatest hope in the world of football. Hublot and King Pele, Hublot ambassador since 2013, have welcomed Kylian Mbappe as a new ambassador of the watchmaking brand, marking a historic moment imbued with emotion.
“The generosity of Pele and Kylian can be seen in their eyes, as can their love for football. This flame, this inextinguishable strength, drives the two great champions. They inspire new generations of footballers and write the history of football.
“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 elicit respect,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO Hublot.
Hublot opens a new chapter in footballing history by bringing Pele and Kylian Mbappe together as its brand ambassadors. The paths of these two men show uncanny similarities. Is this chance or fate?
There are 60 years between Pele’s first World Cup and that of Mbappe. However, the impact of these two players on the history and love of football is something that remains absolute. Pele and Mbappe are two timeless, devoted and esteemed symbols of the world’s most unifying sport, two generations with shared values: Humility, Generosity, Assiduity.
These two precocious giants are renowned for breaking records: both being forwards who have made speed their trademark. They respectively won their first World Cup the first time they played in it, and they were both the youngest players (Pele was 17 years old; Mbappe was 19) to score in and win a World Cup, and in addition while both wearing the number 10 jersey.
A highly symbolic number in the world of football, the number 10 embodies a moment of perfect balance; at moment at which dreams become reality. In 1958, Pele wore this jersey by chance; 60 years later, for Mbappe, it was a choice.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to meet Kylian and welcome him into the Hublot family. He symbolises the incarnation of the new generation of footballers, and he conveys the values of a sport that inspires and unites the world.
“I am happy to see that he symbolises hope; hope for all eventualities, for the dreams we must believe in and fight for, regardless of our origins or our social status. For me, the key to success lies in two words: humility and assiduity. That is the message that the new generation must convey, and Kylian has perfectly understood this,” Pele, Hublot Ambassador, said.
