Coach Zidane makes a decision regarding the World Cup champion as he takes over the French national team.

According to French sources, Zinedine Zidane has already taken his first significant step before formally taking charge of the French squad.

The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to hold a press conference on July 28 to announce Zidane as the new head coach,closing the 14-year era of Didier Deschamps. Even before officially taking office, the 54-year-old tactician has started to outline the team's structure and intends to keep the current captain.

According to Le Parisien,Zidane has decided to retain Mbappe as the captain of France. This is considered a logical decision, as the bond between the Real Madrid legend and the 1998-born star has been founded on mutual respect for many years.

In addition to keeping Mbappe as the leader, Zidane is expected to introduce several professional changes. The former Real Madrid manager aims to broaden the coaching team, which includes adding female specialists, and will offer chances to new players to bring fresh energy to Les Bleus. Nevertheless, he will continue to rely on the experienced core, with Mbappe at the forefront.

This decision comes as no surprise, as the Real Madrid forward is currently the top star of French football.Since his international debut in 2017, Mbappe has played a key role in helping Les Bleus win the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League, and has become the emblem of the new generation following the era of Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris.

During the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Mbappe once again demonstrated his quality, netting 10 goals and providing 4 assists in 8 games. This performance earned him the World Cup Golden Boot for the second straight time, following his 8 goals in 2022, making him the first player ever to retain the top scorer award in consecutive World Cups.

Even though France were knocked out in the semifinals following a 0-2 loss to Spain, Mbappe's displays were still highly praised. Spain later became champions by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Given his talent, experience, and significant influence in the locker room, Mbappe is expected to continue guiding Les Bleus to major trophies under the leadership of one of the most successful coaches in French football history.