Thousands of residents turned out to greet the Paris Saint-Germain striker, back in Bondy on the outskirts of the French capital for the first time since picking up the World Cup best young player award in Russia.

After Pelé, he became only the second teenager to score in the final as France beat Croatia 4-2 on a heady night in Moscow.

“Kyyyyliaannn! Welcome home” shouted one fan, to which a visibly moved Mbappé replied: “I am happier than you (to be here).”

“It’s a privilege to return here amongst you, in my home, here in Bondy.”

“It’s the most beautiful present,” he told the crowd packed into the very ground of Léo Legrange where he first began his football journey back in 2004 as a youth player for AS Bondy.

Among those on hand to greet the world’s second-most expensive player of all time was 28-year-old Caroline.

“My son is a fan,” she told AFP.

Loufti, 14, said: “He’s an idol, it warms our hearts that he’s still thinking about us, it’s our dream to end up like him.”

Mbappé, who last week made the front cover of Time magazine, talked to children kitted out in the French colours with the name of their local hero emblazoned on their backs.

“This is the biggest event” in our town’s history, said Bondy mayor Sylvine Thomassin.

Before taking his leave Mbappé told his youthful audience: “Believe in your dreams. I hope one day one of you will be standing here and I’ll come to acclaim you.”