Why is Mbappé called 'Donatello'?
Mbappé Donatello — also called the Mbappé Ninja Turtle meme — is a long-running nickname for Kylian Mbappé, based on teammates joking that his face resembles Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Where it came from
The nickname goes back to Mbappé’s 2017 move to Paris Saint-Germain. As part of his rookie welcome, veteran teammates teased him and landed on “Mbappé Donatello” / “Mbappé Turtle” for his resemblance to the cartoon character. Some reports credit defender Presnel Kimpembe with the original comparison.
A teammate video from September 2017 circulated widely, and the joke has resurfaced online every time Mbappé is in the spotlight.
How fans ran with it
Fans picked it up fast. During a Rennes–PSG match in December 2017, three supporters ran onto the pitch dressed as Ninja Turtles in a nod to the nickname. Since then it’s become one of football’s most reliable recurring jokes — resurfacing during big tournaments, including his run at the 2026 World Cup.
The short version
“Donatello” is affectionate dressing-room banter: teammates thought Mbappé looked like the Ninja Turtle, the nickname stuck in 2017, and the internet has kept it alive ever since.
Sources: Know Your Meme — Mbappé Donatello, Free Press Journal.
FAQ
- Why is Mbappé called Donatello?
- His PSG teammates joked that his face resembled Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the nickname 'Mbappé Donatello' (also 'Mbappé Turtle') stuck.
- When did the Mbappé Donatello nickname start?
- It dates to his 2017 arrival at Paris Saint-Germain, during his rookie welcome rituals. A teammate video from September 2017 helped spread it online.
- Who gave Mbappé the Donatello nickname?
- Accounts vary — it's credited to PSG's veteran players in general, and some reports name teammate Presnel Kimpembe as the first to make the comparison.
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