Zidane Names Mbappé as France Captain

New France manager Zinedine Zidane confirmed Kylian Mbappé as team captain while unveiling his first squad selection since taking over from Didier Deschamps.

Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot with 10 goals at the recent World Cup, retains the armband as Les Bleus prepare for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Turkey and Belgium.

Zidane officially stepped into the head coach role in late July, signing a four-year contract following the end of Deschamps’ 14-year tenure.

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The 54-year-old coach introduced several new faces to the national side, including Liverpool defender Jérémy Jacquet and Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul.

Zidane names Mbappé as France captain (News Central TV) — Zidane names Mbappé as France captain. Credit: Reuters

Inter Milan’s Andy Diouf, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes also earned their first senior call-ups.

Meanwhile, Zidane omitted several World Cup veterans from the roster, leaving out Aurélien Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram, alongside injured defender William Saliba.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.