There are memories that we remember all our life.
Like a first trophy won together.
This Saturday, at the Parc des Princes, Kylian Mbappé will affectionately greet Brest striker Irvin Cardona, 23, with whom he won the Gambardella Cup (Coupe de France for U19) in 2016 under the jersey of AS Monaco.
On the front of the attack, the two friends had allowed the club of the Rock to win in the final against Lens (3-0) at the Stade de France.
Cardona opened the scoring following a great opening from Kylian Mbappé before the future Blues prodigy scored twice in the second half.
“Kylian, who was already playing with the pros, joined us for the semi-final and the final while Irvin had done this whole campaign in the Cup,” recalls Frédéric Barilaro, the U19 coach.
We were playing 3-4-3 with Kylian in front on the left side and Irvin in the lead.
The two had a lot of affinities in the field and also in life.
Irvin had the qualities of a modern attacker, namely the ability to repeat efforts, be good on the move and enjoy the goal.
"
Five after this memorable moment, the reunion at the Park will necessarily be special.
"I am very happy to see him again because we haven't had the opportunity to meet again on a field since that time," says Irvin Cardona.
We will surely discuss together after the game.
It's great to have played with Kylian and to witness his evolution today which is just exceptional.
"
Irvin Cardona on the Stade de France lawn after ASM's victory in Gambardella in 2016. Icon Sport / Dave Winter
“I discovered Irvin during this Gambardella Cup, remembers Ludovic Batelli, his former coach for the France U18 and U20 teams.
I really liked his profile because it was very complementary to Kylian Mbappé at the time.
Irvin was a player in the making but he was a notch below the attackers I had at the time like Kylian, Ludovic Blas (Nantes), Jean-Kévin Augustin (ex-PSG, FC Nantes) and Marcus Thuram (M 'Gladbach).
He had good finisher skills and was a hardworking boy with excellent demeanor.
"
"He's a late maturing boy with potential"
If his friend Kylian experienced a meteoric rise with a world champion title in Russia, Irvin discovered the L1 in 2017 (7 games) before being loaned to Belgian club Cercle Bruges, bought by ASM.
The native of Nîmes is one of the great architects of the rise of the Flemish formation in D1 in 2018 (9 achievements) then of maintaining within the elite the following year (6 goals).
Its services seduce Stade Brestois, promoted to L1, which bought it in Monaco for 1.5 million euros.
Performing last year before the end of the championship (6 goals and 3 assists), Irvin Cardona confirms this year with the Breton team (5 goals, one assist).
He was even the author, without doubt, of the most beautiful goal of this season with a masterful volley "kung-fu" in Dijon.
"It was an instinctive goal, I was there at the right time but I have since turned the page," said the Brest striker.
I still have to prove in order to bring the maximum to the team by scoring goals.
I have a goal of scoring ten this season minimum.
"
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“The career he has had is significant of his progress,” says Ludovic Batelli.
His time in Belgium did him a lot of good and signing in Brest allowed him to hatch in L1.
I compare him at the same age to Gaëtan Laborde (Montpellier) that I had with me.
He's a late maturing boy with potential.
And when you start to trust them, they show the full extent of their talent.
"
