Paris, March 22 (BNA): World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappe was chosen as the new captain of the French national team, replacing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
France coach Didier Deschamps made the announcement in a short video clip broadcast on soccer program Téléfoot, the Associated Press reports.
“It will be Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann will be the vice-captain. Kylian ticks all the boxes to take on this responsibility, given what he does and will continue to do on the pitch,” Deschamps told Telefoot.
“And because he is a unifying link between the youngest, the youngest and the oldest players. That is why I made this choice but not at the expense of Antoine, because Antoine will also have an important responsibility.”
Griezmann, who turned 32 on Tuesday, has played 117 matches for France and the striker is considered very close to Deschamps.
The 24-year-old Mbappe will lead the French national team against the Netherlands at the French stadium on Friday, when the qualifiers for the European Championship begin next year. France next play Ireland in Dublin on Monday.
Mbappe scored eight goals in the World Cup in Qatar last year, as he became the second player to score a hat-trick in the final, raising his tally to 36 goals in 66 matches with the French national team, including 12 goals in the World Cup. France lost on penalty kicks to Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in Qatar, after a 3-3 draw.
This season, Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer for French champions Paris Saint-Germain after overtaking Edinson Cavani and has 202 goals for the club in 250 appearances.
Lloris and defender Raphael Varane, who won the 2018 World Cup alongside Mbappe, announced their retirement from international football after France lost in the 2022 final.