September 22, 2026 | 06:23 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kylian Mbappe described being coached by Zinedine Zidane for the French national team as something out of a movie.
“Yes, years ago (he took me to the Real Madrid training ground). He was the one who picked me up and took me to Real Madrid, to the training complex. I was 13 or 14 at the time; it was a long time ago,” Mbappe told Diario AS on Monday, September 21, 2026, as cited by Antara.
“And now he is my national team coach. It’s like something out of a movie; he is truly world-class,” he said.
Mbappe and Zidane will work together for the first time during this international break. Zidane is returning to coaching after a five-year hiatus following his departure from Real Madrid.
Mbappe has previously described Zidane as the figure who best represents the French national team. In his view, the former midfielder has left a massive mark on the history of French football.
Zidane has also confirmed that Mbappe retains the captaincy of Les Bleus. The 27-year-old forward has become a key figure of the new generation of French football, having led his country to victory in the 2018 World Cup and to the final in 2022.
Zidane’s appointment marks the end of the Didier Deschamps era as France's coach. Deschamps stepped down after 14 years at the helm of Les Bleus and was replaced by his former national teammate.
Zidane will take charge of his first match as France's national team coach when Les Bleus face Turkey in the UEFA Nations League next Saturday (September 29). Following that, France is scheduled to play against Belgium and Italy.
Read: France's Mbappe Sets World Cup Scoring Record with 22 Goals
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