Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi aren’t strangers to a crowd, but they looked more like fans than footballers as they danced, laughed, and shouted from the front rows of Bad Bunny’s sold-out show in San Juan.
It was the sixth night of the Puerto Rican superstar’s historic 30-show residency at El Coliseo when the Real Madrid forward and his PSG counterpart not only showed up, but stole the spotlight. At one point, Mbappé climbed on stage, arms raised, head bobbing to the rhythm of “Tití Me Preguntó” as the crowd roared. Hakimi joined him soon after. For a few minutes, football royalty became part of the show.
Footage from the night shows the duo in a confetti storm, caught up in the beats and flashing lights. Mbappé grinned ear to ear. Hakimi, in a retro striped shirt and cap, danced like nobody was watching. In truth, millions were. The video went viral within hours.
Their friendship is well known. Since Hakimi arrived at PSG in 2021, the two bonded quickly. They vacationed together, celebrated goals with choreographed dances, and even comforted each other on the world stage. After France knocked Morocco out of the 2022 World Cup, Mbappé embraced Hakimi and told him, “Don’t be sad bro, everybody is proud of what you did.”
A concert that became a cultural crossroads
The timing of their Puerto Rico visit coincided with Bad Bunny’s wildly ambitious residency, titled “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí” (I Don’t Want to Leave Here). For 30 nights across July, August, and September, the reggaetón megastar is turning San Juan’s biggest arena into a full-blown neighborhood block party. Each show bursts with flamboyán trees, domino tables, piragua carts, and bomba beats. This is not just a concert series. It’s a love letter to the island.
The economic impact is enormous. More than 600,000 visitors are expected to pass through. Local businesses are booming. The residency is estimated to bring over $200 million to the island’s economy.
And it’s drawing some of the biggest names in entertainment. Ricky Martin. LeBron James. Now, Mbappé and Hakimi.
Mbappé, clearly caught up in the energy, turned to a camera and yelled out, “¡Acho, PR es otra cosa!” (Puerto Rico is something else!) in perfect Boricua slang. Puerto Ricans online went wild.
The moment became an instant meme. Fans joked that Hakimi looked like a GTA character. Edits of Mbappé’s dance moves flooded TikTok. One Redditor wrote, “This is the crossover content I’m here for.”
None of it was performative. Their joy felt real. Mbappé and Hakimi weren’t VIPs pretending to have fun. They were having the kind of night that felt spontaneous and free.
Bad Bunny’s ties to football have deepened in recent years. He’s name-dropped Messi and Mbappé in his lyrics. He partnered with Adidas for a Messi-themed sneaker drop. Messi even called him a staple of his playlist. In turn, players across Europe, from Neymar to Ramos to Paredes, have vibed to Bad Bunny in locker room celebrations and post-match parties.
The line between sport and music is blurrier than ever. That night in San Juan, three worlds collided. Music, football, and Puerto Rican pride.
By the time the show ended and the lights came up, one thing was clear. Mbappé and Hakimi didn’t just attend a concert. They became part of something bigger.
