The French national team has a new captain in Kylian Mbappé since Hugo Lloris’s retirement, and this choice seems to be universally accepted.
Making Kylian Mbappé the captain was a natural choice for Didier Deschamps. However, it wasn’t necessarily the case for everyone. But as reported by Le Parisien, « any reservations no longer exist today because Kylian Mbappé has won everyone over by sharing power and achieving results, not just on the field. »
« He had initiated the battle for image rights on his own, and he ultimately won it collectively. It is with him and Antoine Griezmann, his vice-captain, that a new agreement was signed between the French national team and the governing body, the French Football Federation, » as noted by Le Parisien.
Kylian Mbappé has decided to share the captaincy behind the scenes. « He sees himself more as a spokesperson for the team to convey their requests. In doing so, he earns his legitimacy and then exercises power collectively, » the regional newspaper reports.
« By focusing the spotlight solely on the number 10 of the French team, the stage for each international match allows others to have peace. The forward takes all the pressure, a habit since his adolescence. With the risk that the French team’s flaws go under the radar, such as Randal Kolo Muani’s lackluster performance. The Mbappé attraction gives others a fresh respite, » concludes Le Parisien.