Mbappe Backed to Be Named France Captain After Hugo Lloris’ Retirement

• Kylian Mbappe could assume the captaincy of France following the retirement of Hugo Lloris
• The keeper made his international debut as a 21-year-old in a friendly versus Uruguay in 2008
• Lloris ended his international career with 145 appearances and is France’s most-capped player

Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to replace Hugo Lloris as the next captain of France.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who shone at the 2022 World Cup, is deemed the perfect replacement for the now-retired Lloris, who ended his international career as France’s most-capped player.

But the 24-year-old Golden Boot winner will face stern competition from a number of first-team players, who are also considered candidates for the captaincy role.

According to L’Équipe via GFFN, Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is the natural successor, having been vice-captain at the Qatar World Cup.

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Other candidates such as Steve Mandanda, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann are also in the offing for the now-vacant captain role.

Despite a number of potential successors, prominent journalist Julien Laurens has backed Mbappe to take on the captain's armband.

Laurens took to the micro-blogging app, Twitter to name the next skipper of Les Bleus with surety, per Sportskeeda.

"And now surely, Kylian Mbappé will be the next France captain," the journalist tweeted.

Lloris retires from international football

Following Gareth Bale’s announcement that he was retiring from all forms of football, another great of the game is calling time on his international career.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Lloris made the decision on the same day Bale had retired, and German stalwart Thomas Muller announced he wouldn’t be retiring.

As noted by Goal, Lloris called an end to his international career after more than 14 years with the French national team, but will still play club football for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

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Mbappe becomes world's most valuable

Sports Brief earlier reported that Mbappe's remarkable World Cup performance has earned him the number one spot as the most valuable footballer in the world.

The 24-year-old, who emerged as the Golden Boot winner, usurped Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, who was the most valuable player on the earth from November 3 to December 23.

Mbappe's market value jumped from €160-million to €180m after winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, giving France a glimmer of hope in the final versus Argentina.