Mbappé-Zidane: it’s heating up

Kylian Mbappé has used his return to the French national team as an opportunity to clear up any lingering doubts about his commitment to the World Cup runners-up. Following an interview with Le Parisien on Monday, the Les Bleus captain made a high-profile appearance on TF1’s evening news on Tuesday, reaffirming his loyalty to the national team and addressing the possibility of Zinedine Zidane taking over as head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup.

In his interview, Mbappé had given a brief response: “The Federation will decide.” But on TF1, he went a step further, openly endorsing Zidane as a future France manager.

“Zidane was every kid’s idol. He left an indelible mark on the history of the French national team and will forever hold a place in the hearts of the French people (...) My love for him is unquestionable. If he takes over, it would be a great pleasure, and I would be very happy,” he said.

Mbappé on Zidane’s future

Mbappé acknowledged that speculation about Zidane “is already in the air” but made it clear that the decision is out of his hands.

“Everyone knows there’s a name floating around. It’s not up to me. It would be better to ask the president, Philippe Diallo (laughs). I try not to talk about it, it’s not my role,” he added.

While his words closely mirrored those in Le Parisien, this time there was a notable difference – he openly admitted that he would like Zidane to succeed Deschamps.

Mbappé‘s tribute to Deschamps

Mbappé also took a moment to praise Deschamps, who confirmed in January that he will step down as France’s head coach after the 2026 World Cup.

“He wants to finish on a high note in 2026, and we have to try to win this World Cup for him. We’ll see who takes over after that,” the forward said.

The Real Madrid star, who missed France’s last two call-ups, is now focused on winning both the Nations League and the 2026 World Cup, aiming to complete a historic cycle that began with Deschamps in 2012.