Mbappé’s debate with journalist

Kylian Mbappé was named the captain of the France national team ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. At just 24 years old, this will be Mbappé's first time to captain a team. He’s said he plans to be the type of captain who consults his teammates, who gives everyone a say, and that there will not be a “gap” between himself and his teammates.

Mbappé does not plan on changing

As a player, Mbappé said he would not change as a player just because he is captain now. One journalist wondered, however, if he planned to change his behavior online, and it seems Mbappé has no intention of doing that either. Here’s how that exchange went:

“The positions you have taken on social media in the past, on racism, on the image rights deal, on the comments from Noël Le Graët on Zidane in particular, obviously, it had a huge influence,” said the reporter. “I wanted to ask you if, now that you are the captain of the French team, will you have the same freedom of speech that you’ve had until now?”

“And I can ask you a question - why do you want it to change?” Mbappé retorted.

“Because the role of captain is also a bit like that of a diplomat in the French team,” said the journalist.

“Who said so?” asked Mbappé.

“The tradition that exists in the French team,” said the journalist. “Hugo Lloris was a captain who was very formal.”

Mbappé replied, “Yes, and as I said before, everyone is a captain based on their personality. I am not like Hugo. Hugo is not like me. I am not like the previous captains. Each one of them have been a different captain, so I would be a different captain as well.”

The journalist asked, “So that means you want to keep that freedom?”

“I don’t think the coach made me captain because he thought I was going to do the same as Hugo,” said Mbappé, then throwing his arms up in a shrug. “Or maybe I’m wrong.”

Mbappé will get his first chance to captain a game today when France hosts the Netherlands in the opening game for Group B in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.