Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there are more Indian fans of French footballer Kylian Mbappe than in France, while addressing the Indian community at La Seine Musicale in Paris on Thursday.

PM Modi highlighted Mbappe’s growing popularity among Indian fans, saying: “French football player Kylian Mbappe is superhit among the youth in India. Mbappe is probably known to more people in India than in France."

French President Emmanuel Macron conferred Narendra Modi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest honour. Modi was accorded a red-carpet welcome as he arrived in Paris on a two-day visit on Thursday. He will join Macron for the French National Day celebrations on Friday as the Guest of Honor.