French football fans are buzzing with excitement following the announcement that Kylian Mbappe will be the new captain of the France squad.
The news comes after the retirement of the previous captain Hugo Lloris, who played his last international match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Kylian Mbappé is the new captain of the French national team, reports @lequipe 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/31NSzzsLTk
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 20, 2023
Sources close to the team have confirmed that coach Didier Deschamps had a discussion with Mbappe on Monday evening at the Clairefontaine training center.
That is where he informed the young star that he would be taking over the captaincy.
Deschamps also spoke with Antoine Griezmann, who was another candidate for the role, but ultimately decided that Mbappe was the best choice.
One of the changes also includes the departure of Raphael Varane, who has decided to step away from the national scene at the beginning of 2023.
This news comes shortly after the retirement of former captain Hugo Lloris, who played his final international match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
At just 24 years old, Mbappe will be one of the youngest France captains in history.
He will be following in the footsteps of Lloris, who held the armband for an impressive 14 years, from 2008 to 2022.
Griezmann, who has 117 caps and 42 goals for France, will be the new vice-captain.
During his press conference on Monday, Deschamps explained that the main quality he was looking for in his choice of captain was “legitimacy.”
He emphasized that “the common interest will prevail” and expressed his confidence that Mbappe would be able to lead the team with authority.
Mbappe has already worn the France armband once, during a game against Denmark in September of 2022.
His new role as captain will officially begin on Friday, when France faces the Netherlands in a qualifying match for the 2024 Euros at the Stade de France.
They will then travel to Dublin to take on Ireland just three days later.
With 66 caps and 36 goals for France, Mbappe is already a hugely influential figure in the national team.
His combination of speed, skill, and goalscoring ability have made him one of the most feared forwards in world football, and his new role as captain is sure to inspire his teammates and fans alike.
For Mbappe himself, the news represents yet another milestone in a career that has already seen him achieve so much at such a young age.
Having won numerous domestic and international titles with Paris Saint-Germain, he will now have the chance to lead his country to even greater success on the international stage.
