Zinedine Zidane has officially launched his era in charge of France, naming his very first squad since succeeding Didier Deschamps and confirming that Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe will continue as national team captain. Unveiling his selection at the French Football Federation headquarters in Paris on Friday, September 18, the newly appointed Les Bleus boss ended any lingering questions regarding the leadership armband ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Mbappe previously spearheaded the national side at the World Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals before France suffered defeat against eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Zidane’s initial selection features a calculated blend of established stars and notable recalls, headlined by a trio of Real Madrid representatives in Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate, and Eduardo Camavinga. For Camavinga, the call-up marks a triumphant return to the national team setup after the 23-year-old was left out of the World Cup roster following an underwhelming previous campaign. Having displayed encouraging signs of revival under Jose Mourinho, the midfielder convinced Zidane that he deserves another opportunity on the international stage.
While Camavinga celebrates his return, several prominent names were left out of Zidane’s initial blueprint. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, Inter forward Marcus Thuram, and Arsenal defender William Saliba were all omitted from the squad. Zidane instead selected a defensive line consisting of Inter Milan’s Andy Diouf, Liverpool’s Jeremy Jacquet, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Real Madrid’s Konate, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, Chelsea’s Maxence Lacroix, Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert, and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. In midfield, Camavinga joins Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, Como’s Lucas Da Cunha, AS Roma’s Manu Kone, AC Milan’s Adrien Rabiot, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery.
The squad announcement coincides with a major commercial shift for the French captain. Mbappe has officially ended his partnership with Nike—an association dating back to the start of his career in 2006—to sign with Swiss sportswear brand On. The Zurich-based company was founded in 2010 and counts tennis icon Roger Federer among its shareholders, who similarly departed Nike late in his own playing career. While contract details were not disclosed, Mbappe stated he was drawn by the opportunity to build something entirely new, push boundaries through innovation, and stay true to the joy of football as the brand expands into the sport.
