Kylian Mbappé has no interest in following common precedent on the pitch or off it. Having become the world’s second most expensive footballer last year with his move to PSG and taking the World Cup by storm, he has now broken convention to donate 100% of his winnings to charity.

Mbappé will have earned a $350,000 bonus for winning the World Cup as well as a number of other match fees and bonuses. However wealthy he is, he is also just 19 years old but is already positioning himself as a leader off the pitch as well as on it with a charitable commitment that will immediately place him among the world’s most generous footballers.

While the entire England team is under a collective commitment to donate international earnings to pre-selected charities, Mbappé has made a personal choice based on an individual commitment.

L’Equippe have reported that his donation will go in full to Premiers de Cordée.

Many footballers giving to charity will be match-made by agents to charities which offer them an international profile despite their having no expertise in the subject area. Mbappé however has picked a charity that supports hospitalized and disabled children engaging with football – a charity with which he was already deeply involved.

General Manager Sebastien Ruffin explained that he makes time to play football with the young people the charity works with, going as far as to say: “I sometimes even feel that he takes more pleasure to play with the kids than the kids themselves.”

Footballers are often under pressure from greedy agents and wealth managers to pick brand name international charities when they do choose to donate. Mbappé shows that he feels no such pressure but sitting where he is at the top of the world, why would he?

The question becomes less about why he is so generous so early and more about why others are not.

Kat Craig, CEO of sports philanthropy advisors Athlead, said: “In today’s world, our sporting heroes have the power to do great good, both on and off the pitch. It’s wonderful to see a young, talented player like Mbappé use his platform to improve the lives of others. At a time when the world feels very divided, this next generation of athletes is leading the way in addressing pressing social issues and bringing people closer together.”