The partnership, which makes the Paris Saint-Germain forward a global brand ambassador for Oakley, kicks off with the launch of the new ‘be who you are’ campaign, a short documentary film on Mbappe’s rise to stardom.

The 2018 Fifa World Cup winner will promote Oakley’s lifestyle collection, including the Kato sunglasses product line which launched in 2021 and features a frameless lens.

One of the world’s most popular players, 23-year old Mbappe recently became an ambassador of French high fashion brand Dior in December.

“Everyone knows what I’m all about when it comes to football – now, I’m excited to partner with a brand that wants to share my story off the pitch, and support what I want to do to help inspire global youth,” Mbappe said.

“I relate to the Oakley attitude in many ways – the disruptive, innovative spirit and the drive to create positive change. The ‘be who you are’ message resonated very strongly with me and I want to help instill that belief in staying true to yourself and that self confidence in others. And of course, the eyewear is pretty cool – you really feel like a superhero when you put on Kato.”

Caio Amato, global marketing director at Oakley, added: “At Oakley we believe that athletes aren’t measured only by the strength of their body, speed, or accuracy, but by the strength of their heart, kindness, and empathy. And that is what Kylian represents to us: a great human being that understands his role beyond sport – to lead and inspire future generations to believe in themselves and be who they are.”

Oakley’s roster of brand ambassadors also includes National Football League (NFL) star Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback became the first NFL player to partner with the brand in 2019, and has had Oakley’s Prizm eyewear built into his helmet since then.