Mbappe summoned to France's senior team for 1st time
Kylian Mbappe's finishing skills haven't gone unnoticed by Didier Deschamps.
On Thursday, Mbappe was called up to France's senior team for the first time in his young career. Deschamps unveiled a list of 24 players for Les Bleus' 2018 World Cup qualifier in March, and the teenage sensation, who scored as AS Monaco erased a two-goal deficit and eliminated Manchester City from the Champions League on Wednesday, was included in the squad.
RDV lundi à Clairefontaine! On a 2 matches à préparer👊
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) March 16, 2017
Luxembourg-France le samedi 25 mars
France-Espagne le mardi 28 mars #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/1ZefIYEqK2
At 18 years old, Mbappe is the first player to be called up to France's senior team who was born after Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup. The youngster is enjoying a phenomenal start to 2017, as he scored a hat trick in Monaco's 5-0 Ligue 1 victory over FC Metz in February before scoring two goals as Leonardo Jardim's side disposed of City in the Champions League's Round of 16.
Mbappe boasts 10 goals and five assists through 21 appearances in Ligue 1 this season. Manchester United reportedly sent its head scout, Marcel Bout, to assess the French adolescent in Monaco's 3-1 victory over City.
Kylian Mbappe: Has scored more goals (10) than any teenager in Europe's top 5 leagues this season pic.twitter.com/juNV2OygUJ
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 16, 2017
Mbappe took to Twitter after Deschamps' announcement, writing: "Happy and proud to be called by France for the first time. Thanks to everyone for your messages."
France will take on Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier at Stade Josy Barthel on March 25 before playing a friendly against Spain at the Stade de France on March 28.
Here's France's squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Benoit Costil, Hugo Lloris
Defenders: Presnel Kimpembe, Laurent Koscielny, Layvin Kurzawa, Benjamin Mendy, Adil Rami, Bacary Sagna, Djibril Sidibe, Samuel Umtiti
Midfielders: N'Golo Kante, Thomas Lemar, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Corentin Tolisso
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Kevin Gameiro, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Dimitri Payet, Florian Thauvin
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