Estéban Lepaul pre-convoked for France’s UEFA Nations League squad

Estéban Lepaul has received a pre-convocation for France’s first squad under Zinédine Zidane, placing the Stade Rennais centre-forward in contention for the opening international selection of the new manager’s tenure. Zidane will announce his list on 18 September, eight days before France begins a four-match Nations League programme.

The 26-year-old has never represented France at senior level. His name had been mentioned several times while Didier Deschamps was in charge, but he had not previously received a pre-convocation. The latest development therefore moves Lepaul closer to an international debut, although a pre-convocation does not confirm that he will appear in the final squad.

Lepaul’s case is built on a strong scoring record in Ligue 1. He finished the previous campaign as the competition’s leading scorer with 21 goals. He has also started the current season in productive form, scoring three times in his first three league appearances for Rennes.

His opening goal came against Paris Saint-Germain on the first matchday. He then scored twice against Le Mans. That sequence has placed him on three league goals from three matches, matching the early-season momentum that made him the leading scorer last season.

The forward also scored six times in four preparation matches for Rennes after the summer break. Combined with his league start, that gives him nine goals across the matches described in the current record. Rennes signed him from Angers SCO for €13.5 million during the 2025-26 campaign, after his development through Angers, SAS Epinal and US Orléans.

Rennes is Lepaul’s current club, and the database lists his market value at €35 million. It also records a groin injury, with no further detail on its timing or severity. That condition is the main current fitness detail attached to the player as he waits for the final decision on Zidane’s squad.

The first list of the Zidane era will be announced at 18:00 on 18 September at the headquarters of the French Football Federation. France’s opening Nations League match will follow on 25 September against Turkey at the Stade de Kocaeli. The schedule then takes the team to Belgium on 28 September.

France will return home to face Italy at the Stade de France on 2 October, before hosting Belgium at the same venue on 5 October. The four fixtures give Zidane four competitive matches in which to establish his first group of players, while Lepaul’s scoring form gives the new staff a clear reason to assess him closely.

For Lepaul, the pre-convocation represents the latest step in a rapid rise. He came through Lyon’s academy, moved through Orléans and Epinal before joining Angers, and then earned a move to Rennes after becoming Ligue 1’s top scorer. His next step depends on the final list, which Zidane will publish on 18 September.