Kylian Mbappe, PSG Star, Named New France Captain After Hugo Lloris Retirement

Kylian Mbappe could make his international captaincy debut at the Euro 2024 Qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday.

France's head coach Didier Deschamps named Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe, 24, new captain of Les Bleus according to a source close to the French team, on March 20, 2023.

Source : AFP

Along expected lines, Paris Saint Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe has been named the new captain of the France national team. The development comes after their goalkeeper captain Hugo Lloris announced his international retirement post the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar where The Blues lost to Argentina in the final. 

As per a report carried by news agency AFP, Mbappe decided to accept the role of being the captain after a interaction with head coach Didier Deschamps. The 24-year-old was the leading goal-scorer in the first World Cup in the middle east where he netted eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final.

Having said that Mbappe will have massive shoes of Lloris to fill who apart from leading France to the final in the most recent edition of the World Cup, had also led them to the title in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He served as the skipper for over a decade and Mbappe would want to carry on his rich legacy forward.

Antoine Griezmann Named France's Vice-Captain, Replaces Retired Raphael Varane

Other than France's captain, their vice-captain Raphael Varane had also announced his decision to hang up his boots after the loss to Argentine in December. It is Antoine Griezmann who has been chosen as the deputy to Mbappe in the new-look France setup moving forward.

Talking about Mbappe's leadership experience, he has been the vice-captain of PSG club and even leads his team in skipper Marquinhos's absence, much like he did in the team's loss to Rennes on Sunday. Despite the defeat though the Parisians continue to be at the top of the league table.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that the youngster's much-anticipated international captaincy debut will happen at the Euro 2024 Qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday at the Stade de France. Mbappe recently lost The BEST FIFA Men's Player Of the Year honour to Lionel Messi who was the winning side in the night of the World Cup final in Doha.