- The fast and the footballers? Some World Cup stars have had surprisingly modest cars
- From Mbappé's MINI to Pulisic's love of a VW Golf
- Bernardo Silva was partial to a Smart car
- World Cup 2026 begins June 11th
.jpg)
These are the cars driven by World Cup stars - and some of the vehicles are much more modest than you might think.
The big summer showcase is accelerating towards kick-off, with the opening match - Mexico vs South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium - set to take place on Thursday 11th June.
Some of the biggest names in football will be hoping to get their hands on the most lucrative piece of soccer silverware going.
And while the usual Ferraris and Lamborghinis typically driven by fan favourites are often just as shiny and coveted as the World Cup Trophy, some players have also had surprisingly humble vehicles in their wider fleet.
Here the experts at Select Fleet Solutions, the corporate arm of Select Car Leasing, the UK’s largest leasing broker, reveal all.
.jpg)
Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid): MINI Cooper Convertible
Paris-born Mbappé, 27, is thought to have only passed his driving test early this year, but that didn’t stop him from amassing a fleet of luxury vehicles before being legally able to drive one.
In 2024, paps spotted a Ferrari SF90 Spider, a plug-in hybrid worth a cool £420,000, being delivered to his Madrid home.
But in more recent months, Mbappé - thought to be worth close to £186m - appears to have been seen driving something much more sensible - a MINI Cooper Convertible, which costs from around £29,000. As a nimble urban commuter for a new driver, the MINI makes a lot of sense.
Christian Pulisic (United States, AC Milan): VW Golf
Pulisic is a shining light for the US and the nation’s World Cup hopes might rest on his shoulders.
The ex-Chelsea attacker, 27, is thought to have amassed a full fleet of expensive motors, including a £165,000 McLaren 570S Spider and a John Wick-esque Ford Shelby GT500.
Yet it’s his links with VW that really catch the eye.
In 2021, Pulisic became a brand ambassador for the German manufacturer, admitting that his first ever car was a VW Polo he owned while living in Germany.
Volkswagen of America also says Pulisic has a ‘genuine interest’ in cars like the VW Golf GTI in particular, and he’s thought to have driven the hot-hatch - as well as a VW Tiguan SUV - as part of the deal. You can lease them both with Select Car Leasing.
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany): Audi Q6 e-tron
He’s one of the best attacking midfielders in world football at the tender age of 23, yet Musiala is often described as being humble and grounded by those who work with him.
His choice of motor appears to confirm that opinion.
Musiala’s domestic club, Bayern Munich, enjoys a partnership with Audi and the team are handed company cars.
The playmaker recently chose a sensible electric Audi Q6 e-tron yours from around £61,315.
He has, though, followed that up with a blisteringly-quick Audi RS e-tron GT performance - which costs considerably more at £167,425.
Bernardo Silva (Man City, Portugal): Smart ForTwo
Experienced midfielder Silva, 31, is preparing to join a new club after bowing out from Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season.
And he’s been praised for his humble attitude by former teammates - which includes the car he used to rock up to training while driving.
That car was a tiny Smart ForTwo. It’s no longer available to lease but could be had for less than £20,000 when new.
In a recent interview with The Times, Silva's former teammate Ilkay Gundogan said down-to-earth Silva bucked the trend for footballers having 'big cars' and added: "But that’s Bernardo - he doesn’t care about the glamour."
Silva does, however, also have a more modern fleet of vehicles that includes a Mercedes-Benz GLE, which is priced from around £76,000.
Josko Gvardiol (Man City, Croatia): VW Golf
Speedy Croatia defender Gvardiol, 24, is partial to a bit of pace off the field as well as on it. He’s been spotted arriving at training in a VW Golf R.
While something of a performance icon, the hot hatch is still much more affordable than the Lamborghinis and Mercedes-AMG G-Wagons seen arriving at the City Football Academy.
The Golf R currently costs from around £46,930 - a fraction of Gvardiol’s weekly wage - but is still capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news
- Select Car Live - the auto show you can't afford to miss!
- Hybrid Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful Audi in history
- New Fiat Grizzly offers more than just the bear necessities
- BMW M2 goes all-wheel drive
- More power and added range for new Rolls-Royce Spectre
Where To Next?
What is car leasing? Read our car leasing explainer.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
