Mbappé hits 100 caps as France begin the chase for a third star

Mbappé's 100th cap, and a hunger for history

Kylian Mbappé earns his 100th cap for France in the World Cup opener against Senegal. He is 27. No Frenchman has reached a century of caps at a younger age (1).

Mbappé made his stance clear ahead of the milestone: he is not chasing the appearance record, he is chasing legacy. "I want to go down in history," he said. "What really counts with Les Bleus are trophies" (1). He spoke openly about the Golden Boot battle with Lionel Messi too, calling it a fight he welcomes (4).

Saliba is playing through pain

William Saliba is carrying a knock into the tournament. The Arsenal defender has been managing a foot injury since the end of the Premier League season. He has not missed France training, but he is playing through discomfort to keep his place in Deschamps' lineup (3). The 4-2-3-1 will likely include him alongside Dayot Upamecano against Senegal.

Dembélé, a Ballon d'Or winner, is at his peak

Mbappé made a point of talking up Ousmane Dembélé this week. "He is a Ballon d'Or level player now," Mbappé said, adding that Dembélé has transformed since winning two major titles in succession (1)(6). The numbers back it up. Dembélé enters the World Cup in the form of his life and will start on the right of Deschamps' attack.

Maignan's quiet authority

Mike Maignan is the voice of this dressing room, even when the armband is elsewhere. He captains the side in practice and on the pitch through sheer presence. Chelsea have held talks with his agent, and his AC Milan future is now open. A strong World Cup could accelerate any move (5).

Fan-reaktioner

The debate on r/realmadrid has already kicked off: is Mbappé actually France's most important player, or does the real weight sit elsewhere in the squad? The thread is picking apart roles, some fans putting Dembélé and Maignan ahead of the captain-elect in terms of tournament influence. Read the discussion here.