Superstar Kylian Mbappé will lead the French national football team as captain. Team boss Didier Deschamps appointed the 24-year-old offensive player from Paris St. Germain to succeed Hugo Lloris, as the French association announced on Tuesday. The goalkeeper had resigned from the “Équipe tricolore” after losing the World Cup final against Argentina. The French start their European Championship qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday in Paris.
“Kylian meets all the requirements to take on this responsibility,” said Deschamps in an interview with TV station TF1. Mbappé is a connecting element both on and off the pitch. The World Cup top scorer has scored 36 goals in his 66 international appearances and was a member of the 2018 World Cup winning team. Alongside Mbappé, Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann was also considered a candidate for the captain’s role. He is now to become Mbappé’s deputy.
According to the newspaper “Le Figaro”, however, Griezmann is considering retiring from the national team because of Deschamps’ vote in favor of Mbappé. The striker, who has been 32 since Tuesday, wants to wait for the two international matches against the Netherlands and Ireland (March 27) and then make a decision.