FIFA has once again embraced Pakistani music, this time celebrating French footballer Kylian Mbappe. Last month, the international football association marked Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s birthday with Arif Lohar’s 2023 hit “Aa.” Now, they have featured the viral song “Blockbuster” in a video celebrating the 25-year-old footballer’s entry onto the field.
In a recent TikTok post, FIFA compiled Mbappe’s on-field highlights with the catchy Punjabi song “Blockbuster,” composed and written by Pakistani artists Zulfikar Jabbar Khan (Xulfi), Umair Butt, Faris Shafi, and Shamroz Butt, playing in the background. The post was captioned: “Mbappe’s ‘BLOCKBUSTER’ entry.”
The song, which has an old folk music vibe, features vocals by Faris Shafi, a famous Pakistani rapper, along with Umair Butt and the all-female Gharwi Group, consisting of Abida, Rooha Rawal, Sajida Bibi, and Saba Hassan. Released as part of Coke Studio Pakistan’s season 15 in May, the song has gained immense popularity among millions of Pakistanis and has received international recognition.
Xulfi expressed his excitement on Instagram after seeing FIFA’s post, writing: “From Coke Studio Pakistan to FIFA’s global stage – our ‘Blockbuster’ just made an appearance with Mbappe on FIFA’s official TikTok page! This feels surreal. Our voice, our beats transcending boundaries, creating timelines that were once deemed improbable. Congratulations Pakistan, this is wonderful and this is huge.”
The song’s popularity is attributed to its infectious dance number and its one-take music video. It has also trended on Spotify India, with listeners celebrating its international success. One Indian listener commented on Instagram: “It seems as if I have arrived at the border while scrolling.”
