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By Martin Graham | 22nd Mar 2023
The France national team have named 24-year-old Kylian Mbappe as their new captain following the retirement of long time veteran Hugo Lloris from international duty.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper hung his international gloves in January following the completion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was captain of Les Bleus for over a decade and won the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. He was also the captain of the teams that finished as runners-up in the 2016 UEFA Euro Championship and the 2022 World Cup.
France have gathered for their first camp since the World Cup and since Lloris’ retirement ahead of the March 2023 International break which will see them take part in some 2022/23 Nations League games. A new captain was to be decided upon at the camp, and reports have proven that Mbappe was given the mantle of leadership.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward was chosen over the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane, N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba (who is not a part of the camp, no thanks to injury problems).
“Kylian Mbappe is the new captain of Les Bleus,” France boss Didier Deschamps told Telefoot after initially denying the reports that Mbappe would be given the armband. “Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain. Kylian meets all the boxes to have this responsibility. On the field as in group life, by being a unifying element.”
The decision to hand the 24-year-old the armband for France for the foreseeable future has gotten mixed reactions from across the football world. Based on talent and impact, the former AS Monaco starlet has been the team’s most valuable player since his debut in 2017. His experience as a leader, however, is what is elucidating mixed feelings.
He is the ninth PSG player in history to captain Les Bleus, with teammate Presnel Kimpembe having worn the armband temporarily a few years ago.
Mbappe’s captaincy, it is understood, also stems from a desire to emulate the actions of the national teams of two of football’s greatest players, Argentina and Portugal.
Mbappe recently turned 24 and will be captain for the rest of his International career. It was at this age that his PSG strike partner, Lionel Messi, first wore the armband for the Argentina national team. He still holds it 11 years later.
Mbappe’s idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, was handed the Portugal national team armband at 23, a year younger than Messi and the Frenchman. His International career currently hangs in the balance, but he is still the officially recognised captain of the side 15 years later, at 38 years old. This makes him one of the longest running captains of an international side.
Mbappe is already a serial winner with France but the armband should spur him to prove that he can be mentioned in the same breadth as those two greats when the topic is brought up in future discussions.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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