Sports

Kylian Mbappe takes over as France captain after Hugo Lloris' retirement

Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris brought an end to his international career in January after losing the World Cup final

By AFP

March 21, 2023

In this file photo taken on November 22, 2022 France´s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scored during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Australia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha. AFP/File

CLAIREFONTAINE-EN-YVELINES: 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.

Mbappe, who has played 66 times for his country, had been heavily linked with the role for weeks and scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final loss after helping Les Bleus to the title in 2018.

The former Monaco attacker is vice-captain at PSG behind Brazil's Marquinhos and led the side in the defender's absence during Sunday's loss to Rennes.

His first game as captain will be Friday's Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands at the Stade de France.