"I'll keep that to myself." That was Ester Exposito's answer when asked whether she's cheering on France at the World Cup — and it's the closest thing to a confirmation anyone's going to get from this pairing.
Kylian Mbappe has no wife, no confirmed girlfriend, and no interest in making anything official. But the rumors around him and Spanish actress Exposito — best known from Netflix's Elite — have been building steadily. The two don't post photos together, but Mbappe regularly drops emoji reactions on her Instagram. A smiley face with heart eyes on June 15. Similar responses on multiple other posts. For someone who scores goals for a living, he's not exactly subtle.
A footballer dating someone who doesn't watch football
Here's what makes this story genuinely entertaining: Exposito has been openly disinterested in the sport. "I know nothing about soccer!" she told Le Parisien. "I've only been to a stadium a few times in my life. At home, nobody watched matches on television."
She's Spanish. France's biggest star is reportedly her partner. She doesn't know if Spain is even playing.
To her credit, she's warming to it. Exposito is set to appear in a football-themed film called "Baton," so the sport has entered her orbit whether she planned it or not. She told LOS40 Colombia she's "following it a bit" and checking results. Baby steps.
As for whether she'll show up in the stands — she told Le Figaro she'd "probably" attend the tournament, but nothing has been confirmed. Mbappe, for his part, is keeping his eyes on the prize. "My only focus is on helping the team and getting us back here on July 19," he said, referencing the final in New York/New Jersey. The Golden Boot race against Messi and Haaland? He says he doesn't care about the stats. Whether you believe that is another matter.
What's clear is that off the pitch, Mbappe is playing things just as carefully as Exposito. Neither confirms, neither denies. The emoji reactions do the talking.
