Wilfried Mbappe believes Zinedine Zidane would be a fantastic choice to lead France, but warns that stepping into Didier Deschamps’ shoes will be an enormous challenge.
Speaking on France 5 show C à vous, Kylian Mbappe’s father admitted: “I don’t know if he’s the ideal profile, but it would be very good,” when asked about Zidane taking over after the 2026 World Cup.
He stressed just how hard it will be to follow Deschamps. “It’s going to be very difficult to follow in Deschamps’ footsteps,” he said. “People find plenty of faults with him today, but once he’s gone, they’ll suddenly find plenty of qualities.” Wilfried insisted that French fans “mustn’t forget what he has achieved and the track record he will leave behind,” yet added that “if it is Zidane, we will all be happy.”
He also highlighted the special bond between Zidane and Kylian, recalling his son’s youth trial at Real Madrid under the French legend.
Meeting Zidane left a deep impression: “When this gentleman opens the door… you’re left speechless. He is a truly wonderful person. Sometimes you can be disappointed when you meet someone you admire. With him, it’s quite the opposite.”
