Should Kylian Mbappé still be the captain of the Blues?

Kylian Mbappé captain, stop or again? “Today I am not going to ask myself a question that is not on the agenda. “Everything in its time”declared Didier Deschamps at the start of the rally, on November 7. He could have closed the door, asserted that the non-selection of the Real Madrid striker did not call into question his status as captain of the France team. He didn’t do it. On purpose? Unlike the coach, the drafting of the Figaro the question arises now: should “KM” still be the captain of the Blues?

Yes, Kylian Mbappé must still be the captain of the Blues (CR)

Don’t be a prisoner of the moment. This is the golden rule to keep in mind in this matter. If there is any question of his (potential) legal troubles, the presumption of innocence prevails, as Didier Deschamps recalled. As far as his sporting performances are concerned, water will have flowed under the bridges by the next gathering, in March. If we talk about possible enmities against him within the group, everything will quickly be erased with a few goals. Certainly, the coach would undoubtedly have been well advised to entrust the armband to Antoine Griezmann after the international retirement of Hugo Lloris. But what’s done is done. “Grizou” said goodbye to the Blues in turn.

Kylian Mbappé remains the standard bearer of the new French generation. Obviously, Deschamps refuses against all odds to entrust the captaincy to the one who, from the outside, would embody it best, namely Mike Maignan. “DD” will probably not want to deny himself to this extent.

Against Israel, it is the (very) discreet N’Golo Kanté who will carry out the task, knowing that Aurélien Tchouaméni, captain in October, is out. A default choice, just to make way for the triple scorer in the world final in Qatar. One thing is certain: “KM” needs to find himself again, to become the player again… and the man he was until the 2022 World Cup. The armband is no obstacle to that. If he made this threat, it is undoubtedly because Deschamps intends to sting his star’s pride. It is up to Kylian Mbappé to get back on the right path, on the pitch, in club, in selection, but also in the head. In the meantime, the captain’s armband is his. He must keep it.

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No, Kylian Mbappé must no longer be the captain of the Blues (BD)

The idea is not to undermine a boy who is going through the most difficult period of his professional career. But above all to lighten it by a weight. Kylian Mbappé is a formidable leader when everything is going well, but also when he has to take responsibility on the pitch, no one will have forgotten his iconic and legendary hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina. That evening, he harangues his partners and single-handedly mystifies the Albiceleste. No debate on that. A question? Was he captain of the Blues? No, the armband was on Hugo Lloris’ side.

Recent events (Euro, failed September return on and off the field, misplaced trip to Sweden after postponing the October sequence, etc.) confirm one thing. Nothing will be spared for Mbappé and when he is less well physically and mentally as has been the case for more than a year, it is difficult, even for a mutant like him, to manage everything well. The matches, the conflicts, the positions taken, the media outings… It’s far too much for one man.

By relieving him of such responsibility, Didier Deschamps would mark the occasion in terms of his authority. But it would also send the message to Mbappé to concentrate on what he does best: perform well on the pitch. Everyone sees it, when everything is going well, he’s a great captain. When things go wrong, doubts arise and his game suffers. In view of the 2026 World Cup, we need a liberated Mbappé, physically, mentally and psychologically. He probably did not very well assess the immense task and the influence that this piece of fabric represents. The Blues need a great Kylian Mbappé to land a third star. And that doesn’t always rhyme with the armband. In 1998, everyone remembers Zidane. Not captain. In 2018, everyone remembers Mbappé and Griezmann. Not captain, nor vice-captain. Same in 2022. And 2026?