Kylian Mbappe is the headline maker for France these days and for good reason. But, if the French are to go all the way in Euro 2024, then a lot rests on Dayot Upamecano. The defender has been a sensation since joining Bayern Munich with his passing and speed. As such, there are reports that the coach prefers the Bundesliga star over William Saliba in his preferred XI!

According to the defender, his playing style was forged in his hometown’s streets of Evreux. Dayot Upamecano’s family was always there to help him when the going got tough. But, who are these lesser-known heroes responsible for the growth of France’s elite defender? Let’s dive in.

The family that supported his soccer dream

The name Dayot, short for ‘Dayotchanculle’ was inspired by his grandfather, a king of a village in Guinea-Bissau. The family migrated from Bissau-Guinea and settled in La Madeleine, a tiny town in France. From a young age, Dayot Upamecano was clear to his parents that he wanted to be a soccer star. Fortunately, they never deterred him from the path.

Regarding the early days, Upamecano said, “In the youth teams you also have a lot of frustrating moments, but when I came home disappointed, my parents said ‘Cheer up! Come on, keep going!’ As per the Frenchman, his father and Senegalese mother were the ones who built him up.

At home, Dayot Upamecano had four sisters and a younger brother. Yet, the Frenchman preferred to spend most of the time outside the house playing soccer. According to him, this was when he learned how to win and lose and supported his teammates. The 25-year-old added, “The team was above everything, and giving up was not an option.”

There are no confirmed reports of Dayot Upamecano being in a relationship. Nevertheless, he was observed at the Oktoberfest Beer festival in the company of a woman. Could she be his lady love?

Notably, Upamecano’s career has brought up multiple challenges despite the stardom and success. In fact, his communication skills were a big detriment to his career prospects early on.

Dayot Upamecano opens up on his ‘difficult’ time

Today Dayot Upamecano confidently throws out instructions on the pitch, but that wasn’t always the case. When he was young, the defender suffered from a speech impediment. He revealed, “It was a difficult time. Some classmates didn’t treat me particularly well and annoyed me.” As a result, he preferred to talk very little and remained in a shell.

During this time, his parents got divorced as well. Despite the challenges ahead of him, the Frenchman didn’t give up. He went to see a speech therapist between the ages of 10 and 13. This was a huge turning point and strengthened his confidence on the pitch.

As France takes on Austria in Euro 2024, Dayot Upamecano’s father won’t be there to cheer him on. His dad passed away during Upamecano’s debut season in Bayern Munich. But just like in childhood, Upamecano will not be alone in his battles.