Zinedine Zidane officially announced on Friday that Kylian Mbappe will continue as captain of the French national team, marking a significant step in his tenure since succeeding Didier Deschamps as head coach of Les Bleus.
Mbappe, who currently stars at Real Madrid, demonstrated his leadership and scoring prowess at the recent World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals. Despite his efforts, France fell short in the semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Spain.
This transition follows the conclusion of Deschamps’ remarkable 14-year spell as France’s manager, highlighted by the 2018 World Cup victory. Zidane, who shared the pitch with Deschamps during France’s victorious 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 campaigns, was appointed in late July on a four-year contract to lead the national team forward.
Upcoming Fixtures and Fresh Faces
Zidane’s debut matches as coach will take place in the UEFA Nations League, beginning with an away game against Turkey next Friday, followed by a clash with Belgium in Brussels on September 28. His first home appearance will be against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2, with a subsequent home match against Belgium scheduled for three days later.
The 54-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner, who retired in 2006 after a notable playing career capped by a controversial red card in the World Cup final, has introduced several new players into his initial squad. Among them is 21-year-old centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who earned his spot thanks to impressive recent performances, signaling Zidane’s intent to refresh the squad while maintaining a strong core.