Atalanta U19 Overview

Didier Deschamps has downplayed France's status as the leading contenders for the World Cup crown, instead pointing towards a European rival as the team to beat. Speaking ahead of Les Bleus' opening fixture against Senegal, the veteran coach insisted that while his side harbours domestic ambitions, they do not currently hold the mantle of the world's strongest team.

Kylian Mbappe has issued a rallying cry to his France team-mates by admitting he must evolve his own game to ensure World Cup glory. The Les Bleus captain acknowledges that his defensive contributions have often been a point of contention and is determined to silence the critics in North America.

Four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Messi ended the GOAT debate by leading Argentina to victory over France in the World Cup final. There was a player on the other team, though, who actually appeared to have sufficient talent to potentially reopen it one day. After all, Kylian Mbappe had actually pipped Messi to the tournament's Golden Boot by outscoring the Argentine No.10 in that epic encounter in Lusail thanks to the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst all the way back in 1966.

Kylian Mbappe is learning how to share the limelight, Frank Leboeuf has told GOAL, with the World Cup-winning Frenchman boasting similar main character energy to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Those qualities are currently illuminating La Liga and the 2026 World Cup, but could they pass through the English Premier League at some point?