Zinedine Zidane confirmed Kylian Mbappé as France captain during his first squad announcement on September 18, 2026. The new head coach, who signed a four-year contract on July 28, 2026 replacing Didier Deschamps, delivered the news with characteristic brevity: « Kylian sera mon capitaine. » At the 2026 World Cup, Mbappé scored 10 goals, bringing his international tally to 22 and making him France’s all-time leading scorer. Zidane also defended the striker against criticism of his defensive workrate, calling the debate « absurd. » Thirteen players from France’s 2026 World Cup squad were retained in the new coach’s first selection.
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