“Why the phenomenon ‘Project Mbappé’ does not create the next football star.”

The obsession with creating the next football star, especially under the concept known as the “Mbappé Project,” is generating heated debates in the sports world. This phenomenon has seen thousands of young people, many of them still children, subjected to intensive training and demands that, instead of propelling them toward success, may end up crushing their dreams. Let us analyze this trend that, at first glance, seems promising, but in practice, can be a dangerous path.

**An Illusion of Grandeur?**

When we browse social media, we are bombarded with videos of child prodigies in football, performing impressive dribbles or scoring spectacular goals. The case of Arat Hosseini, a young Iranian who became famous at the age of six for his remarkable skills, is a perfect example. Known as the “Iranian Messi,” Arat quickly made it to Liverpool’s academy, but his trajectory took an unexpected turn. After being released from the academy, he returned to Iran and began exploring other sports, such as Padel and Hockey. What seemed to be a promising career quickly crumbled, raising questions about the effectiveness of the early development model.

“Almost always, this impression that a child will become a professional one day is wrong,” emphasizes a specialist. What many parents do not realize is that rigorous training from a young age can lead to early burnout and a loss of interest in the sport. Furthermore, the pressure placed on young athletes can have a lasting and harmful psychological impact, creating a performance need that extends far beyond the playing field. The only advantage of the “Mbappé Project” is the statistical possibility that early specialization in football could produce a competent player, but this is not a guarantee.

**The Reality of Star Training**

A study conducted at Purdue University revealed that “people who show the greatest promise in childhood rarely reach the peak of their careers in adulthood.” This study debunks the famous “10,000-hour rule,” which suggests that deliberate practice is the key to mastery. In fact, the best performances in various disciplines tend to come from “late bloomers” and a diverse approach, where practice in multiple fields is more beneficial than early specialization. The study concludes that being a child prodigy is not only unnecessary to become a world-class performer, but that, in fact, few of the best athletes were prodigies.

Examples such as Hachim Mastour, Zakaria Bakkali, Ravel Morrison, and Ansu Fati confirm this thesis, showing that pressure and expectation can be a deadly trap for young talents. The intensity in training and pressure from parents, as reported by the French newspaper 20 Minutes, are becoming increasingly common. Many children are being subjected to development plans that make them vulnerable to toxic environments, rather than encouraging a passion for the game.

**What is the Right Path?**

In light of this scenario, the question that arises is: what is the true route to becoming a football star? The answer is clear: there is no single path. Football is a sport that develops in various ways, depending on culture and geography. In the United States, for example, young players may follow the route through high schools and universities, while in Europe, local academies are common. In Brazil, many start on the streets, participating in informal tournaments. Each journey is unique, and it is this diversity that makes football so beautiful.

Therefore, instead of pressuring their children to become superstars from a very young age, parents should focus on keeping the passion for the game alive. Success in football requires consistency and dedication, but it should also be a space for fun and escape. The message is clear: the true essence of football should be the joy of playing, not a frantic race to become the next global icon.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.