Zinedine Zidane, who officially took charge of the France national team in July, announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming September and October international break on Friday, September 18. During his first press conference as head coach, Zidane addressed speculation regarding the potential return of Karim Benzema to the international fold. The new coach dismissed the possibility, clarifying that his current focus is strictly on integrating younger players into the setup.
Benzema, who first debuted for Les Bleus in 2007, announced his retirement from international football the day after France’s loss to Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Despite his selection in the 2022 squad for that tournament, a thigh injury prevented him from making a single appearance. His final match for the national team remains a 2022 UEFA Nations League encounter against Croatia. While Zidane and Benzema enjoyed significant success together at Real Madrid—winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles—that professional history will not translate into a national team recall.
Zidane also used the briefing to solidify the leadership structure of the squad. He confirmed that Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will retain the captaincy. Since being appointed by former manager Didier Deschamps in 2023, the 27-year-old has established himself as a central figure, leading the team through the 2026 World Cup where he ended the competition as the top scorer.
Beyond his leadership role, Mbappe currently stands as France’s all-time leading goalscorer, a testament to his cemented legacy at only 27 years of age. When pressed by journalists on whether he intends to adjust Mbappe’s defensive responsibilities, Zidane maintained that the forward would be expected to fulfill defensive duties just like every other member of the squad, emphasizing a collective commitment to the team’s structure under his new tenure. The report also notes that he did not feature in the tournament due to a thigh injury, although he was included in France’s final squad for the 2022 Mundial.
