Kylian Mbappe’s Private Life: The Famous Names Previously Linked With the France Superstar
Kylian Mbappe may have suffered disappointment with France on the international stage, but the Real Madrid forward still has something significant to fight for as Les Bleus prepare to face England in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday.
After France were defeated by Spain in the semi-final, Mbappe and his teammates were denied the opportunity to compete for another World Cup trophy. Nevertheless, the French captain still has an individual prize within his reach. With eight goals in the tournament, Mbappe is level with Lionel Messi in the battle for the Golden Boot, giving him another reason to produce a memorable performance in France’s final match of the competition.
Away from football, Mbappe’s personal life has also continued to generate considerable media interest. The superstar has generally kept his romantic relationships away from public discussion, but that has not prevented newspapers, magazines, and social media users from speculating about the people he may have dated over the years.
One of the latest celebrities to be linked with Mbappe is Spanish actress Ester Exposito. Best known internationally for appearing in Netflix’s successful teen drama Elite, Exposito has developed an enormous following since becoming one of Spain’s most recognizable young television stars.
The actress has accumulated more than 24 million Instagram followers and regularly attracts attention with photographs documenting her fashion choices, professional projects, and travels. Her popularity extends far beyond Spain, particularly among younger audiences who discovered her through streaming platforms.
Rumors connecting Exposito and Mbappe began gaining momentum earlier in the year. Reports claimed the two had been seen together in Madrid toward the end of February. Speculation increased after another alleged sighting in Paris during early March.
Those appearances were enough to trigger widespread discussion about whether a romance might be developing between the footballer and actress. However, neither Mbappe nor Exposito has publicly confirmed that they are in a relationship. As a result, reports describing them as a couple remain speculation rather than an established fact.
The attention surrounding Exposito is hardly unfamiliar territory for Mbappe. Despite maintaining considerable privacy around his relationships, the France international has been associated with several models and celebrities during his rise to global sporting fame.
Among the most widely reported relationships was Mbappe’s alleged romance with French model Ines Rau in 2022.
Rau, who was born in Paris, has enjoyed a groundbreaking career in the fashion and entertainment industries. She became particularly well known after making history as the first openly transgender Playmate. Her career also included work connected with major international beauty and fashion brands, helping establish her as a prominent figure in the modeling industry.
Media speculation surrounding Rau and Mbappe intensified after the pair were photographed spending time together. They were seen appearing relaxed and cheerful around the period of the Cannes Film Festival, while other photographs reportedly showed them enjoying time aboard Mbappe’s luxury yacht.
One widely circulated set of images showed Mbappe carrying Rau in his arms while they spent time together. Unsurprisingly, the photographs quickly fueled rumors that their friendship had developed into a romantic relationship.
Neither Mbappe nor Rau provided extensive public commentary confirming the precise nature of their relationship. Nevertheless, numerous media outlets continued to describe the two as romantically involved throughout 2022.
The reported relationship attracted significant public attention, partly because of Mbappe’s enormous profile in international football and Rau’s status as an influential transgender model. However, the intense speculation surrounding their private lives was largely driven by photographs and media reports rather than detailed statements from either individual.
By the end of 2022, reports began suggesting that Mbappe and Rau had gone their separate ways.
The timing coincided with an extraordinary period in Mbappe’s football career. France reached the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they faced Lionel Messi’s Argentina in one of the most dramatic championship matches in the tournament’s history.
Mbappe delivered an unforgettable individual performance, scoring three goals during the match and completing a hat-trick in the final. Despite his remarkable contribution, France ultimately lost to Argentina following a penalty shootout.
Not long after the World Cup concluded, reports emerged claiming Mbappe’s rumored relationship with Rau had ended. Once again, however, the footballer remained largely silent about his personal life and did not provide a detailed public account of the reported breakup.
Another name subsequently connected with the French superstar was Belgian model Stephanie Rose Bertram.
Bertram has built an extensive career in international modeling and has worked on campaigns involving several major brands. Her professional résumé includes appearances connected with companies such as H&M, Primark, and L’Oreal.
She also received considerable publicity after being one of the models associated with promotional material for the infamous Fyre Festival. The luxury music festival became notorious after collapsing into chaos in 2017, despite having been heavily promoted online by models, influencers, and celebrities.
Reports linking Bertram with Mbappe emerged after his rumored relationship with Rau was said to have ended. The speculation quickly spread across entertainment and sports media, once again placing the footballer’s private life under the spotlight.
However, as with many of the romantic stories surrounding Mbappe, reliable public confirmation was limited. Much of the discussion originated from celebrity reporting and online speculation rather than direct statements from the people involved.
That distinction is particularly important when examining Mbappe’s dating history. While he is one of the most famous athletes in the world, the Real Madrid star has rarely chosen to publicly discuss romantic partners in detail. Consequently, many of the women linked with him have been described as girlfriends by sections of the media without the relationships necessarily being confirmed by Mbappe himself.
His extraordinary fame makes such speculation almost inevitable. Mbappe has spent much of his adult life as one of football’s most recognizable figures. His achievements for Paris Saint-Germain, France, and subsequently Real Madrid have transformed him into a global celebrity whose activities away from the pitch regularly become news.
The attention is particularly intense during major international tournaments. As captain and one of France’s most important players, Mbappe is constantly followed by cameras, supporters, and journalists. His performances can dominate headlines around the world, while interest in his lifestyle and relationships continues alongside his sporting career.
For the moment, however, Mbappe’s immediate priority remains football.
France’s defeat against Spain may have ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup final, but the tournament is not completely finished for Les Bleus. Saturday’s meeting with England gives the squad an opportunity to respond positively to their semi-final disappointment and finish the competition with a victory.
There is also the Golden Boot battle to consider. Mbappe’s eight-goal tally has placed him alongside Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring standings, meaning the third-place match could determine whether the French forward finishes the tournament as its leading goalscorer.
For a player who has already produced some extraordinary performances on football’s biggest stage, another individual honor would add to an increasingly impressive career.
Whether Ester Exposito will be watching and supporting him remains a matter of speculation. Despite the reported sightings in Madrid and Paris, neither the Spanish actress nor Mbappe has officially defined their relationship publicly.
The same uncertainty surrounds several other chapters of Mbappe’s reported romantic history. Ines Rau and Stephanie Rose Bertram are among the most prominent names previously associated with him, but the football star has consistently maintained a relatively private approach when it comes to discussing his love life.
As a result, while the rumors surrounding Mbappe continue to attract considerable attention, his performances on the pitch remain the most visible and verifiable part of his public story. With another important match approaching and the Golden Boot potentially at stake, the France captain has one final opportunity to make headlines for what he does best—scoring goals and delivering on football’s biggest stage.