Estéban Lepaul faces controversy after France national team call-up

Stade Rennais striker Estéban Lepaul has drawn social media attention following his first call-up to the France national football team by manager Zinédine Zidane.

After expressing his pride in representing his country and his affection for French culture, Lepaul faced backlash from some social media users who labeled his patriotic sentiments with political extremes. Observers have criticized this reaction, arguing that expressing national pride after a career milestone is not inherently political.

In addition to the controversy, Lepaul has discussed his preparations for joining the national squad. He indicated he intends to use music during the traditional initiation rituals with his new teammates to ease his integration into the group.