Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé named new France captain by Didier Deschamps

The France national team headed into their first international break of 2023 with plenty up in the air. Following goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ retirement from international duty, one decision that Didier Descahmps had to make was who was going to be the new team captain for the new era. According to L’Équipe, the France boss has decided that the next man to wear the armband will be Paris Saint-Germain superstar and Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappé, who will lead the World Cup runners-up out when their Euro 2024 qualification campaign gets underway against the Netherlands at the Stade de France on Friday.

Mbappé chosen over Antoine Griezmann

Deschamps has plumped for the World Cup Golden Boot winner over Atlético Madrid playmaker Antoine Griezmann, who will act as vice-captain, a position that Mbappé holds at PSG behind Marquinhos. The French attacker has led his club side in recent matches in the Brazilian defender’s absence and recently became the Ligue 1 team’s record goalscorer, overtaking Edinson Cavani’s record of 200 goals.

PSG star’s World Cup heroics

Mbappé has scored 36 goals in 66 appearances for France and his eight strikes in Qatar saw him become his country’s second-highest World Cup scorer behind the late Just Fontaine, who scored an incredible 13 times in the 1958 tournament. Mbappé, of course, netted a hat-trick in the final in Doha yet still finished on the losing side as Argentina emerged victorious in a penalty shootout. Now, at the age of 24, he will officially become France’s new leader.