Lucas Da Cunha emerges as Zidane’s France surprise

Lucas Da Cunha has taken a major step towards the France squad after being included in Zinédine Zidane’s preliminary selection. The 25-year-old Como midfielder is not yet in the final group, but his presence in the new coach’s plans marks a sharp change in his international prospects.

Da Cunha’s route to that position has been unusually difficult. Raised in Roanne as a devoted Saint-Etienne supporter, he was rejected by the club’s academy, as well as by Lyon and Dijon. Rennes eventually gave him a pathway, and he won the French Under-17 title in 2018 and the Under-19 championship the following year. His first-team opportunities remained limited, however, leading to spells with Nice, Lausanne and Clermont.

He made 27 Ligue 1 appearances without establishing himself before moving to Como in January 2023, when the Italian club were in Serie B. Working alongside Cesc Fabregas, first as a teammate and later as his coach, Da Cunha helped Como reach Serie A in 2024. He is now the club captain and regarded as one of Italy’s leading midfielders, with his technical ability central to his rise.

His 2025-26 campaign has strengthened the case for international recognition: 36 matches, six goals and five assists. Marseille showed interest, but Fabregas blocked a move. Da Cunha has Portuguese roots through his father and has spoken of his dream of eventually wearing Saint-Etienne’s shirt. For now, a France call-up under Zidane is the opportunity that could redefine his career.