How the France squad are drawing on a US mindset | OneFootball

Les Bleus’ 2026 cohort has long been steeped in American culture, shaping how they train, communicate and invest. On Monday, Kylian Mbappé met NFL running back Bijan Robinson at Clairefontaine, part of the FFF’s partnership with the NFL.

According to L'Équipe, players born in the late 1990s and early 2000s grew up on NBA, music and US series, and their Stateside trips now go beyond holidays. Following Antoine Griezmann, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Ousmane Dembélé, Mbappé, Mike Maignan and Marcus Thuram are regular visitors.

Agent Meissa Ndiaye says the US model has influenced methods, from mental and physical preparation to recovery such as LED therapy and hyperbaric chambers. He also points to a blend of hard work, showmanship and a relentless desire for more.

Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality is bedside reading for some, while basketball-rooted agents have deepened the cross-over. Jonathan Kebe, who represents Tchouaméni, Maignan and Jules Koundé, says he adopted a US approach where success is an obligation and striving to be the best is embraced.

Agencies now run off-season university camps, including at UCLA, with American staff and NBA specialists. Les Bleus tap experts like Victor Wembanyama’s masseur and osteopath Fabrice Gautier, and Marcus Thuram has refined his movement with NFL specialists who also worked with Antonio Brown.

Off the pitch, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s The Bridge echoes LeBron James’s template, and players increasingly invest, communicate directly and take stands on social or political causes, including discrimination. That contrasts with a more cautious 1998 generation.

Fashion is a partial exception, says stylist Gregory Bellaïche. He sees pre-match runway moments and some US codes, yet many keep a European identity, from Jules Koundé, Adrien Rabiot and Dembélé to Michael Olise and William Saliba, while Mbappé’s tie-up with Louis Vuitton and Dayot Upamecano underline the point.

Source: L'Équipe