Estéban Lepaul arrived at Clairefontaine with a smile, a misplaced floor in the building and the France crest with two stars lodged in his mind. Rennes’ forward is taking in his first senior call-up, but he made clear that he has not travelled merely to admire the surroundings: he wants minutes, victories and, if the chance comes, a first international goal.
Key takeaways
- Lepaul has joined the France squad for the first time after finishing last Ligue 1 season as the division’s leading scorer.
- The Rennes striker aims to feature during all four upcoming matches and help France win each of them.
- He was welcomed by the squad, including former Lyon academy connections Pierre Kalulu and Bradley Barcola.
- Lepaul described his late father, a former high-level player whose career ended at 24, as his daily motivation.
- The 24-year-old left Lyon for Épinal in 2020 and believes routes from the lower divisions to Ligue 1 are becoming more open.
A first taste of Clairefontaine and a clear ambition
Lepaul said the first hours of his France camp had unfolded smoothly. Goalkeeping coach Fabien Barthez greeted him on arrival before the rest of the group gradually welcomed him in, with Kalulu and Barcola among the familiar faces from his time in Lyon’s youth set-up. He also came through the traditional initiation song without difficulty.
The most powerful image of the opening day, he said, was the national badge itself. Seeing the rooster and its two World Cup stars gave him an immediate sense of pride. There was also a lighter moment when he initially went to the wrong floor at the national training centre.
His belief that a France call-up could become realistic arrived at the close of the previous Ligue 1 campaign, when he ended the season as its top scorer. Lepaul felt that achievement represented a genuine turning point in his career.
His own memories of the national side stretch from the pain of the 2006 World Cup to the 2018 triumph, which he watched in Place Bellecour in Lyon before celebrating late into the night. The defeat in the 2022 final also stayed with him, but he regards himself above all as part of the generation shaped by France’s 2018 success.
Among forwards, he cited Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud as the France players who have excited him most. Giroud’s journey particularly speaks to him because of their shared profile as goalscorers and the unusual paths their careers have taken. He also named Ferran Torres, Harry Kane and Lautaro Martínez among the strikers he follows, highlighting Torres’ capacity to influence matches even when he does not score.
Zinédine Zidane has already left an impression in camp. Lepaul said the former France great had shown he could still play, with the striker enjoying receiving passes from him during finishing work. Zidane’s opening meeting introduced the staff and training programme before a presentation on the history, legacy and meaning of the France shirt.
Lepaul believes that message was important for a new-look group. He said the players understand the scale of representing France and that Zidane wants them to become committed defenders of the badge rather than take the blue shirt for granted.
“It is a dream, but I want to play an active part in this gathering,” Lepaul said. “The first collective target is to win the four matches. Personally, I want playing time, to bring something to the team and, if a first goal arrives, that would be good.”
A route from Épinal to Rennes and France
The call-up carries a personal weight for Lepaul. His father played at a high level, including in the Champions League, and came close to France selection but never reached it. His career ended when he was 24, the same age at which Lepaul’s own career began to take off.
His father has since died, but Lepaul sees the current chapter as a form of inheritance. The forward said there is an unfinished story being carried forward and that the memory has driven him every day since 2020.
That year brought one of the hardest periods of his career, when he left Lyon for Épinal. Lepaul said he never abandoned the belief that he could reach the top level. As he began his relationship with his wife, he told her he was convinced he could make the climb, despite difficult moments and inevitable doubts.
He sees his journey as part of a wider change in French football. More players are reaching Ligue 2, Ligue 1 and beyond after spells in the lower divisions, he said, rather than following a straight academy-to-top-flight route. A strong season can now create a rapid ascent, offering encouragement to players outside the established pathways.
Lepaul also rejected the suggestion that France pre-selection had disrupted his recent form for Rennes. He accepted that his display against Angers was below his standards, but disagreed with criticism of his match against Marseille and his substitute appearance in Lyon.
He insisted that the attention had not brought pressure or self-doubt. Lepaul acknowledged that supporters can struggle to see a striker’s contribution when he does not score, but said his off-ball work and analysis allow him to judge his performances clearly.
After a strong run over recent months, he suggested a small dip may have been natural. His attention is now fixed on the 14 days with France before returning to Rennes with renewed ambition.
