In the hyper-competitive economy of global football, the Mbappé dynasty is often reduced to two names. First, Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid “Galactico” and global icon. Then Ethan Mbappé, the rising star at LOSC Lille. But do you know who is Mbappe big brother? The true origin of the Mbappé success story predates the shattered records and astronomical contracts. Before the fame, there was another prodigy who paved the way: Jirès Kembo Ekoko, Kylian Mbappé’s older adopted brother.
The First Son: A Bondy Legend Before Kylian
Jirès Kembo Ekoko’s entry into the Mbappé clan predates Kylian’s existence. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jirès was taken in by Wilfrid Mbappé and Fayza Lamari when he was just 11 years old. Being exactly ten years older than Kylian, he was already an established fixture in the household when the future World Cup winner was born.
As Kylian himself summarized their dynamic: “I wasn’t born when Jirès entered the family; so, for me, he has always been there”. Growing up in the Parisian suburb of Bondy, Kylian viewed Jirès as his ultimate idol—the classic older brother he wanted to emulate in every way.
The Blueprint is Mbappe Big Brother
Long before Kylian stepped onto the pitch at AS Monaco, Jirès was the family’s first professional star. He attended the prestigious INF Clairefontaine academy—the same talent factory Kylian would later join—and became a key forward for Stade Rennais in Ligue 1.
Crucially, Jirès’s career served as the “beta test” for the Mbappé parents. Guiding him through the cutthroat world of agents and professional contracts allowed Wilfrid and Fayza to learn the harsh realities of the sports industry. By the time Kylian’s talent attracted the world’s biggest clubs, the family already possessed the blueprint for success. They knew which pitfalls to avoid, largely thanks to the lessons learned while managing Jirès.
An Idol in the Living Room: The Technical Influence
The influence Jirès had on Kylian wasn’t just emotional; it was technical. One of Kylian’s signature moves, the devastating fake shot (feinte de frappe), is a family heirloom. “I took it from my father, he took it from me,” Mbappe big brother explained, noting that Kylian mastered the move by watching his older brother play for the French Under-21 national team.
Jirès was also the first to spot Kylian’s frightening potential. He fondly remembers showing off the young Kylian’s skills to his Rennes teammates, proving even then that his little brother was destined for the top.
A Core Pillar of the “KEWJF” Clan
Despite Kylian’s stratospheric rise, the family remains a tight-knit corporate entity. When the family established their holding company in 2017 to manage Kylian’s commercial rights, they named it “KEWJF”. The acronym stands for:
- Kylian
- Ethan
- Wilfrid
- Jirès
- Fayza
This was a clear statement: the Mbappé empire is a five-pillar structure, and Jirès is an equal part of it. The company has since evolved into Interconnected Ventures, but the loyalty remains unchanged.
Life After Football: The Sibling Bond
Today, Mbappe big brother Jirès has retired from professional football, allowing him to spend more time at the family home. Even in retirement, the brothers share the pitch for casual games. Jirès still jokes about his ability to dribble past the Real Madrid superstar, teasingly adding that for Kylian, “it’s not his thing to defend”.
While Kylian Mbappé currently belongs to the history books, he first belonged to a family. And in that family, Jirès Kembo Ekoko was the trailblazer—the big brother who helped build the foundation for football royalty.
