Top of the list is Kylian Mbappe who landed in Yaounde, Cameroon on Thursday, June 6, touring the country for three days. The Parisian-born World Cup winner toured West Africa on his first-ever trip back since he was a teenager. Mbappe (24) was born to a Cameroonian father, Wilfried, and an Algerian Kabyle mother, Fayza Lamari. His father moved to Europe at a young age to pursue a football training career and would later mentor his young son at youth side AS Bondy.
"I'm so happy to be here," said the Paris St Germain star after touching down in Yaounde, adding he felt "honoured" to be visiting his country "of origin" and had been shown a lot of "love" from the people. Mbappe is reported to have made a stop at a children's school with hearing and speech disabilities, funding its renovation through his foundation. He then visited his father's village on Djelabe Island, where he got first-hand experience of the family homes. He then participated in a small game with the local children, some lucky to get a signed shirt from their idol.
Bukayo Saka (Nigeria)
Another group of stars who took the jet to Africa for the holidays is the Dutch duo of Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum. Depay was born in Moordrecht, Netherlands to a Ghanaian father and a Dutch mother (Dennis and Cora). The Atletico Madrid forward has been a frequent visitor of his homeland after reconciling with his father, meeting Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addoeven recently last year and even discovering blood ties with the leader (Asantehene) of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Wijnaldum, on the other hand, used to have a 'Boateng' attached to his name. The 32-year-old's parents are of Surinamese origin but was born and raised in the Netherlands. He, however, had a Ghanaian stepfather whom his mother got married to and divorced, hence why he dropped the name. "I want to put on record that I am now Georginio Wijnaldum, not Georginio Boateng, in fact, I have been known as George Wijnaldum for four years now. Boateng was the name of my former stepfather who is related to retired Dutch footballer of Ghanaian origin George Boateng," he told Goal in 2013.
Liverpool star Cody Gakpo was spotted handing out food to children in his father's country in Lome, Togo last month. Born to a Dutch mum and a Togolese dad, Gakpo has always expressed a strong desire to go back and give back to the community. With some of his family still residing in Africa. He is said to be exploring the possibility of setting up a charitable project in the country.
Gakpo turned down the chance to represent Togo internationally after an approach by the Togolese FA, choosing to represent the Orange colours since he was at the Under-18 level.
Thilo Kehrer (Burundi)
Barcelona's 19-year-old left-back Alejandro Balde received a hero's welcome when he paid a courtesy call to his father's home country Guinea-Bissau last month. Now representing Spain at the senior level, Balde was born in Barcelona to a Dominican Republic mom (Gledys) and a dad from Guinea-Bissau (Saliu). The Barca star, who was in the company of his brother Edi, met President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and awarded him a signed Barcelona shirt.
Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Sadio Mane recently organised a get-together at his home town in Senegal and continues to transform lives back in by spending millions on building community-benefitting infrastructure. Last year, the Bayern Munich star is reported to have spent over 700,000 pounds (Sh120 million) to transform the Bambali area. He took part in a muddy local football match, which also featured former Senegalese Premier League players, El-Hadji Diouf and Papiss Cisse, before visiting a 455,000-pound (Sh84 million) hospital he supported in constructing.
The hospital is reported to be serving more than 30 villages in the area. To cater to the current Bambali population (around 2000 people), Mane has built a 250,000-pound (Sh46 million) public secondary school in the village. Furthermore, Mane is said to have provided each family in the village with a monthly EUR70 support package (Sh11,000) and presented EUR400 (Sh63,000) to the top students at Bambali High School. Children in the village have also acquired free sportswear, whilst the village has been equipped with 4G internet.
Other football stars who ply their trade in Europe and have visited Africa during the holiday season include AC Milan's Malick Thiaw, spotted spending Eid in Senegal, Inter-Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana and Napoli's record-breaking Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen.
GLANCE FACTS: PLAYERS IN EUROPE WITH AFRICAN DESCENT
- Zinedine Zidane (Algerian Kabyle descent)
- Patrick Vieira (Had roots in Senegal/Cape Verde)
- Paul Pogba (From Guinea)
- Romelu Lukaku (parents born in DR Congo)
- David Alaba (Nigerian on father's side)
- Ngolo Kante (From Mali)
- Karim Benzema (Algerian origin)
- Ferland Mendy (Senegalese father, Guinean mother)
- Eduardo Camavinga, (Parents are Congolese nationals who migrated from Angola)
- Antonio Rudiger (Parents escaped civil war in Sierra Leone)
- Bukayo Saka (parents emigrated from Nigeria)
- Memphis Depay (Father comes from Ghana)
- Kylian Mbappe (Algerian mom and Cameroonian dad)
- Breel Embolo (Born in Cameroon)
- Alexander Isak (Parents come from Eritrea)
- William Carvalho (Born in Angola)
FOOTBALL STARS WHO HAVE VISITED KENYA:
- Ronaldinho - visited Nairobi in 2018
- Mauro Icardi - PSG striker visited Giraffe Manor in June 2022
- Thomas Tuchel - Visited Kilifi in January 2023
- Thierry Henry - Came to Nairobi in December 2017
- Samuel Eto'o - visited Malindi in August 2022, 2012
- Mohamed Salah - Came to Kenya on transit in July 2019, AFCON March 2021
- Robbie Fowler - visited Nairobi in November 2018
- Theo Walcott - Arrived with Everton in 2019
- Pep Guardiola - Came to Kenya in December 2017