Kylian Mbappe has succeeded the retired Hugo Lloris as France captain, a source close to the team told AFP on Monday.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe, 24, accepted the proposal after discussions with coach Didier Deschamps earlier in the day.
Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris brought an end to his international career in January after losing the World Cup final a month earlier.
Lloris, 36, had been skipper for more than a decade.
Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann was named vice-captain after Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane also hung up his boots following the defeat to Argentina in December.
In February, Get French Football News reported that Mbappé was in line to take the armband as the leading candidate at just the age of 24. This came in the wake of a wave of player retirements – including Steve Mandanda (37), Karim Benzema (34), and then from vice-captain Raphaël Varane (29) which has all but left Mbappé and Griezmann as the two candidates for vacant captain spot.
Hugo Lloris backed Mbappé to succeed him as captain on Sunday whilst speaking to Téléfoot. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper announced his retirement from the national side following France’s defeat in the World Cup final to Argentina in December.
Didier Deschamps today said that he would hold discussions with Mbappé about the France captaincy, with the decisions expected to be officially announced on Thursday.
His first game as captain will be Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands at the Stade de France.
