From legendary soccer player Pelé to world champion boxer GGG to the basketball superstar Dwyane Wade and world-renowned golfer Dustin Johnson and iconic track legend Usain Bolt, luxury watchmaker Hublot seems to have had all its bases covered when it comes to its team of sports stars. But now, with the signing of Kylian Mbappé, it has welcomed a new generation of talent in its partnership with the French National Football Team hero/Paris Saint Germain F.C. forward.

Photo Credit: Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

“Kylian is the first current footballer to represent the brand. He follows on from Usain Bolt, with whom he shares many values,” began Ricardo Guadalupe, Global CEO of Hublot. “In becoming a Hublot ambassador, Kylian joins the legends of football, and King Pelé in particular. These two men have both recently displayed their common values on social networks. Welcoming Kylian Mbappé into our family conveys a powerful message. The fusion of time, the power of dreams and passion, the magic of a sport; all of which are values an athlete inspires. When you meet Kylian he is, first and foremost, a good person; a man who embodies the future and all that it holds in store. Being able to bring together Pelé, the patriarch of our Hublot Family, and Kylian, our youngest-ever ambassador, is just one of those unique moments in life, an instant where time stands still to mark history forever.”

Born on 20 December 1998, Mbappé is one of the youngest players the sport has ever seen on a professional level, and is projected to be one of the greatest of all time. His stellar performance at this year’s World Cup was a testament to that projection, as is his continued performance as forward in the Paris Saint Germain Football Club.

“It’s a huge honour to meet Mr. Pelé. And a great source of pride to find myself at his side in the Hublot family,” began Mbappé. “For me, Hublot is a real favorite. I’ve been a fan of their watches and their philosophy for a long time. The encounter with Jean-Claude Biver and Ricardo Guadalupe, who run this company, was a decisive one. I need to be able to identify both with the values of the brand with which I partner and the people behind it. Hublot embodies this fusion of innovation, new technologies and materials, which greatly appeals to me. They unconditionally support my sport and are associated with my finest moments in football, so I am proud to become the first current footballer to act as an ambassador for the brand! That’s why I am Hublot!”

Photo Credit: Gareth Cattermole – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Of course, the legend that is Pelé had a few words to touch on the new partnership as well: “He is a fantastic athlete; he thrilled me during the 2018 World Cup, he made me want to dust off my football boots and join him on the pitch. He hasn’t fully realised it yet, but he has left his mark on history and, above all, he will keep the moments he experienced and the feats he has accomplished deep within himself. When I followed his games during the World Cup, I could feel my body run, my feet score, my heart beat with this intense joy, that of victory. I just had to tell him and now I just have to meet him! Well done and welcome Kylian.”