Zidane Names Mbappé France Captain for Nations League Opener

France’s new era has begun with a clear choice of captain and a first look at the players Zinedine Zidane wants to carry into the autumn. The former France great named Kylian Mbappé as his skipper while unveiling his opening squad for four UEFA Nations League matches, beginning against Turkey on 25 September.

The news from the club

Zidane has brought five uncapped players into his first France selection. Rennes forward Estéban Lepaul, Como midfielder Lucas da Cunha, Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, Liverpool defender Jérémy Jacquet and Inter defender Andy Diouf are all included.

For Mbappé, the appointment as captain comes alongside a firm endorsement from the new coach. Zidane dismissed suggestions that the Real Madrid forward does not contribute enough without the ball, calling that discussion a “false debate” and insisting he would handle Mbappé in the same way as every other member of the group.

One of the more unusual moments of Zidane’s presentation came when he accepted a question in Spanish about Mbappé’s defensive work, then translated it for the wider room before answering. He did not engage with politically charged questions, including those connected to the Ceuta shirt controversy.

Zidane also outlined how he sees Mbappé in attack. The forward can operate across all three positions on the front line, he said, although the coach particularly enjoys seeing him play from the left.

Aurélien Tchouaméni will remain in Madrid after recent fitness problems. Zidane noted that the midfielder had made only one start and said staying with his club would be the better route for his recovery.

The new manager has also closed the international door on two prominent figures from France’s recent past. N’Golo Kanté, now 35 and playing for Fenerbahçe, and 38-year-old Karim Benzema, currently without a club, will not return as Zidane looks towards younger options.

“I had extraordinary years with Karim in Madrid,” Zidane said. “It is similar with N’Golo: I admire what he has done and the career he has had. But now I need to look at younger players. That does not take anything away from his international career.”

Four Nations League dates ahead

France, fourth at the most recent World Cup and world champions in 1998 and 2018, face a compact opening run in the Nations League.

The sequence offers Zidane an immediate test of his new hierarchy: Mbappé leading the side, a group of first-time call-ups seeking their first minutes, and established names such as Tchouaméni temporarily left to rebuild fitness away from the national camp.