Kylian Mbappe Named Captain of France Under Zidane

Zinedine Zidane did not waste his first big decision. On Friday, the new France coach confirmed what many expected but still needed to hear: Kylian Mbappe will captain Les Bleus.

The Real Madrid forward had already worn the armband with authority at the World Cup, dragging France forward and finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals. It was not enough to stop Spain in the semi-finals, but it was enough to convince Zidane that this is now Mbappe’s team.

A new era, then. And a clean break.

Zidane steps out of Deschamps’ shadow

Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign ended after that World Cup exit, closing a chapter defined by the 2018 world title and a culture of relentless pragmatism. Zidane, his former teammate in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs, arrives with a four-year contract and a very different aura.

The romantic storyline is obvious: the artist following the organiser, the icon returning to lead the nation he once illuminated as a player. But Zidane’s first squad shows he is not here for sentiment.

His opening tests come quickly. France travel to Turkey next Friday in the UEFA Nations League, then head to Brussels to face Belgium on September 28. His first home game at the Stade de France will be a heavyweight meeting with Italy on October 2, followed by another clash with Belgium three days later. There is no gentle introduction.

A bolder, younger France

The names on Zidane’s first list tell their own story. This is not a simple continuity selection with a new signature at the bottom.

• Jeremy Jacquet, 21, earns a first call-up at centre-back after impressing since his summer move to Liverpool.
• Esteban Lepaul, last season’s top scorer in Ligue 1 with Rennes, finally gets his chance in a forward line already stacked with talent.
• Lucas Da Cunha is rewarded for his work at Como in Serie A, a reminder that Zidane is prepared to look beyond the traditional powerhouses.
• Andy Diouf, capable of operating in midfield or at wing-back for Inter Milan, steps into the national setup, while Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes joins the group as another fresh face.

These are not token inclusions. They look like markers of intent.

The omissions are just as striking. Aurelien Tchouameni, a central figure at the World Cup and a Real Madrid midfielder, is left out. So is Inter forward Marcus Thuram. William Saliba misses out through injury at Arsenal, removing one of France’s most in-form defenders from the equation. Zidane has not blown up the core, but he has clearly loosened the bolts.

Mbappe’s France

All of it orbits around Mbappe. At 25, with a World Cup, another final and now a Real Madrid move behind him, he becomes the face and voice of Zidane’s project.

He will lead a squad that still drips with quality. Mike Maignan anchors the goalkeeping group, supported by Robin Risser and newcomer Restes. The defence mixes experience and novelty: Diouf, Jacquet, Ibrahima Konate, Pierre Kalulu, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert and Dayot Upamecano give Zidane a blend of pace, physicality and ball-playing ability across the back line.

In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery offer energy and versatility, with Adrien Rabiot’s experience and Manu Kone’s drive adding balance. Rayan Cherki brings invention from Manchester City, while Da Cunha rounds out a group that can morph between control and chaos at Zidane’s command.

Up front, Mbappe is joined by Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Esteban Lepaul and Michael Olise. It is a forward unit built for speed, directness and one-on-one duels. On paper, it looks devastating. On the pitch, it will demand clarity and discipline to avoid becoming a collection of soloists.

The Zidane blueprint begins

This first squad is not a revolution, but it is a statement. Zidane has leaned into youth without abandoning the spine. He has backed form, not just reputation. He has handed the armband to the most decisive player of his generation and effectively told him: this is your stage, now lead.

Turkey away, Belgium twice, Italy at home. The schedule offers no hiding place. By the time those four Nations League fixtures are done, we will know far more about Zidane the international coach than Zidane the legend.

For France, the Deschamps era is over. The Zidane-Mbappe axis now carries the weight of a nation that expects to win. How quickly can they turn that expectation into a new standard?