Zidane Praises Rayan Cherki as Future Star for France

Zinedine Zidane, the current coach of the French national team, named Rayan Cherki as a player he would have loved to play with during his career. Zidane, who succeeded Didier Deschamps after 14 years in the role, emphasized Cherki's exceptional skills, stating, “A real baller.

He finds such incredible passes, and he even knows how to play without the ball.” Cherki, who played only one match during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was in the starting lineup for Zidane’s first match as manager, contributing to a 1-0 victory over Turkey. Following his transfer from Lyon to Manchester City last summer, Cherki has made 15 appearances for the club, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

He has also represented France 15 times, scoring two goals and providing one assist. Under Zidane's guidance, Cherki is expected to play a central role in the national team's future endeavors.