What we know about Ester Expósito and Kylian Mbappé
Spanish Netflix star Ester Expósito and France striker Kylian Mbappé have fueled months of dating rumors in 2026 without ever confirming a relationship. The latest buzz came when Mbappé blew a kiss toward the stands after scoring in France's World Cup win over Sweden while Expósito watched from a stadium box—leaving fans asking whether the gesture was meant for her. For readers tracking ester expsito updates, the short answer is: the pair look closer than ever in public, but neither has made it official.
Key Takeaways
- Ester Expósito, the Elite and Bandidos actress, has been linked to Mbappé since early 2026 sightings in Paris.
- Neither star has confirmed they are dating, though Expósito told reporters in March she was doing very well when asked directly.
- During France's 3-0 World Cup win over Sweden, Mbappé scored twice and blew a kiss toward the stands where Expósito sat in a box.
- Spanish outlets note Expósito once joked she knew nothing about football—before regularly showing up at Mbappé's biggest matches.
- The moment went viral on social media, even as some reports say it remains unclear who the kiss was intended for.
Who is Ester Expósito?
Ester Expósito Gayoso is a 26-year-old Spanish actress best known for playing Carla Rosón on Netflix's Elite. Born in Madrid on January 26, 2000, she has also starred in Someone Has to Die, Bandidos, and films including Venus and Lost in the Night, according to Yahoo en Español.
With more than 24 million Instagram followers, she is a major fashion figure and won the Golden Nymph for Most Promising International Talent at the 2026 Monte Carlo Television Festival. That same event is where she later admitted she was not much of a football fan—before her recent sideline appearances drew WAG comparisons.
Why did Mbappé's World Cup kiss go viral?
France beat Sweden 3-0 at the New York-New Jersey stadium during the 2026 World Cup, with Mbappé scoring two of Les Bleus' goals, Periódico Correo reported. Cameras caught Expósito smiling in a stadium box alongside a friend as she followed the match.
After one of Mbappé's goals, he celebrated by blowing a kiss toward the crowd. Fans quickly speculated it was meant for Expósito. 20Minutos noted the gesture was widely shared online, though it remains unclear whether Ester—or another close friend or family member—was the intended recipient.
Have Ester Expósito and Mbappé confirmed they are dating?
Not officially. Yahoo en Español reports that romance rumors began in early 2026 when the pair were photographed leaving a Paris restaurant and getting into the same car. They were later seen on vacations in Sardinia and Ibiza before the World Cup, with photographers capturing affectionate moments.
In March, Expósito attended the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabéu. When asked about Mbappé days later, she stayed coy: "I'm not going to say anything, but I'm doing great." Mbappé, 27, has likewise avoided confirming anything publicly despite leading France's World Cup campaign.
How has her football fandom evolved?
Weeks before the World Cup kiss, Expósito told the Monte Carlo Television Festival she had never been a football fan and did not grow up around the sport, Periódico Correo reported. She said she was slowly starting to take an interest—an understatement given her recent track record.
She first drew attention in a VIP box at the Bernabéu, then traveled to the United States to watch Mbappé at the World Cup. For more on how streaming stars cross into global sports headlines, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.