Kylian Mbappé has been on fire for Real Madrid this season, and the France captain will now hope to carry that form into the international stage. His next challenge comes under a new manager, with French football legend Zinedine Zidane taking charge of Les Bleus for the first time. Zidane has already confirmed Mbappé will remain France's captain, setting the stage for a potentially historic Nations League campaign.
Mbappé Chasing 70 France Goals
Mbappé currently has 66 goals for France, meaning he needs just four more during the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches to reach an extraordinary milestone, 70 international goals.
If the Real Madrid superstar manages to score four times during the Nations League, he would become the first player in France's history to reach 70 international goals.
That would be another remarkable chapter in a career that has already seen Mbappé surpass some of the greatest goalscorers French football has ever produced.
The 27-year-old is already comfortably ahead of the likes of Thierry Henry, Michel Platini, Karim Benzema and Zinedine Zidane on France's all-time scoring chart. Henry finished his international career with 51 goals, while Platini scored 41, Benzema managed 37 and Zidane finished with 31.
Even more remarkably, Mbappé's nearest challenger at the top of the list is Olivier Giroud, who ended his France career with 57 goals. Mbappé has therefore already established a significant advantage over one of the country's greatest-ever strikers.
A Historic Nations League Opportunity
The upcoming Nations League fixtures give Mbappé an immediate opportunity to extend that lead even further.
France's new era under Zidane begins against Turkey on September 25, before further Nations League fixtures against Belgium and Italy.
For Mbappé, however, the focus will not simply be on adapting to a new manager. Four goals would take him to a landmark 70 international goals, a figure that none of France's previous legends managed to reach.
There is also an intriguing storyline surrounding Zidane and Mbappé. The two have known each other since Mbappé was a teenager, when Zidane helped introduce him to Real Madrid's training facilities. Mbappé has described finally being coached by his childhood idol as something that feels "like a movie."
With France entering a new era and Mbappé already sitting at 66 goals, the Nations League could provide another unforgettable milestone for one of the country's greatest-ever footballers.