Kylian Mbappé was on a kidnapping target list of a gang led by an 18-year-old

Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid forward, appeared on a list of main targets compiled by a dangerous French gang that planned to kidnap footballers, rappers and high-net-worth business figures. The group was led by an 18-year-old identified as Clément L., a Franco-Swiss national who operated under the alias Lester Z and is already in prison for armed robbery and pimping.

• The 18-year-old gang leader, known as Lester Z, issued orders via Snapchat from his prison cell.
• The target list included 26 names: footballers, rappers, jewellers and millionaire business owners.
• Kylian Mbappé was by far the wealthiest target on the list.
• The teenager was identified after an assault on a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine last April.

Who is Lester Z, the teenager who planned to kidnap Mbappé

Behind the Lester Z pseudonym is Clément L., a 18-year-old Franco-Swiss man who dropped out of school during his first year of vocational training in cooking. He was arrested after being identified as one of the perpetrators of an assault on a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine in April. Once in prison, authorities discovered that the young man had continued his criminal operations behind bars.

From his cell at Villepinte prison in Seine-Saint-Denis, Clément L. issued orders to other gang members through Snapchat, using the alias that made him known to investigators. Police extracted information from his two mobile phones and found a detailed list with addresses, habits and data about his potential victims.

The gang's 26 targets: footballers, rappers and millionaire businessmen

The list drawn up by the gang included 26 names of people with large fortunes. The targets included rap artists, elite footballers, jewellers and wealthy business owners. Investigators identified, for example, a Chinese wholesaler in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, several jewellers and a Turkish meat wholesaler in Val-d'Oise whose wealth is estimated at several million euros.

However, one name stood out above all others due to his enormous net worth: Kylian Mbappé. A judicial source cited by Le Parisien confirmed that the gang also wanted to target a rapper and the Real Madrid footballer. The French forward, World Cup winner in 2018 and one of the best-paid athletes on the planet, was by far the most valuable target on the entire list.

How the gang operated from prison

The case highlights the growing difficulty in dismantling this type of criminal organisation even after arresting their leaders. Far from ceasing his activity, Clément L. continued directing operations from the Villepinte penitentiary, which shows the access he still had to mobile devices and communication channels that are encrypted or difficult to trace such as Snapchat.

The gang focused on locating people with a high economic profile and then planning kidnappings and extortion schemes. The assault on the watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine that led to the teenager being identified was just one of the group's criminal activities. The subsequent investigation revealed that the scope of their plans was far greater than initially thought.

Clément L.'s criminal record and his unexpected reaction

Clément L. already had a criminal record for armed robbery and pimping at the time of his arrest. Despite the seriousness of the plans uncovered, his reaction during questioning surprised investigators. The young man, who left school during his first year of vocational training in cooking, claimed he hopes to resume his studies and become a chef.

The statement contrasts sharply with the coldness shown in organising a plan to kidnap 26 people, including a public figure of Mbappé's stature. The case remains under judicial investigation to determine the level of involvement of other gang members and whether any actual kidnapping attempt was made beyond the planning stage.

What is known about Mbappé's security after this case

Kylian Mbappé is, along with other global football stars, one of the athletes with the highest media and financial exposure in the world. His move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 multiplied his already massive global popularity even further. Cases like this highlight the risks faced by elite footballers, who typically rely on private security teams and specific protocols to protect both their physical integrity and that of their families.

Neither Real Madrid nor the player's entourage have commented publicly on this matter. The Spanish club has strict security protocols for its players, especially during travel and first-team training camps.