Zinedine Zidane has offered his full backing to Kylian Mbappé, confirming that the Real Madrid star will remain captain of the French national team. The decision puts an early end to speculation regarding a potential leadership change following Didier Deschamps’ departure.
Confirming Mbappé’s captaincy marks Zidane’s first major leadership decision, announced alongside his inaugural squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy.
Speaking at a press conference, Zidane declared: “Kylian will be my captain; he is the best player in the world.” The statement reaffirms that the 27-year-old’s status remains intact under the new coaching staff, despite external scrutiny since he assumed the armband.
Deschamps initially named Mbappé captain in March 2023 following Hugo Lloris’ international retirement, selecting him ahead of the more experienced Antoine Griezmann—a move that disappointed Griezmann and sparked debate over whether the young forward was ready to lead.
Scrutiny intensified during UEFA Euro 2024, where Mbappé scored just once while playing with a broken nose. Questions regarding his commitment grew when he missed the October 2024 international window—appearing for Real Madrid and being spotted in Sweden during a France match—before being omitted from the November squad as well.
Public debate reached a high point in September 2025, when an Odoxa poll for RTL revealed that 49% of the French public did not view Mbappé as a suitable captain, with 52% calling for a change. Critics also pointed to his limited defensive work rate and public statements on political and social matters.
However, Mbappé answered on the pitch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, driving France to the semifinals and earning the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Zidane dismissed lingering doubts over Mbappé’s defensive workload, assuring that the captain will fulfill his defensive duties like the rest of the squad.
Since making his international debut in March 2017 against Luxembourg at age 18, Mbappé played a key role in France’s 2018 World Cup and 2021 UEFA Nations League titles, while also scoring a historic hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina.
With 66 goals in 106 international caps, Mbappé stands as France’s all-time top scorer. He also leads the historical World Cup goalscoring chart with 22 goals, and will launch his new chapter under Zidane against Turkey on September 25.
