Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has accepted the proposal to become the new captain of the French national football team after discussions with coach Didier Deschamps, L'Equipe has revealed. This comes after Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris retired from international football in January.
After serving as Le Bleus' skipper for more than a decade, the 36-year-old stepped down from national team duty with the final defeat to Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup being his last involvement for them. Since the Spurs man confirmed his exit, rumors have hinted at Mbappe taking over the mantle as he is considered to have adequate leadership qualities.
Last week, reports from France revealed that the Paris Saint-Germain star was set to meet Didier Deschamps to talk about the possibility of leading the team. Widely regarded as the face of French football, there was a general acceptance within the national team's heirarchy and the football federation for the attacker to be appointed as the new sjipper, hence the decision.
At PSG, he serves as vice-captain behind Brazilian defender Marquinhos and recently led the team in the absence of the defender during a match against Rennes. Mbappe's first game as captain will be the Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday, which will be held at the Stade de France.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann has also been named vice-captain following the retirement of Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane. The 29-year-old center-back also confirmed his withdrawal from all future international games shortly after Lloris' announcement, ending his stint with 93 caps to his name.
