The French national football team, led by coach Zinédine Zidane, is set to play four matches in the Nations League between September 25 and October 5. Their first match will be against Turkey on Friday at 8:45 PM. One of the standout selections in Zidane’s first squad is Côme Lucas Da Cunha, a 25-year-old midfielder who has surprised many with his inclusion. Da Cunha, who is not widely known in France, has played 27 matches in Ligue 1 with clubs like Rennes, Nice, and Clermont before moving to Serie B in Italy in January 2023. His journey to prominence has been anything but straightforward, with early trials at top French clubs like AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais not working out. Da Cunha, who stands at 1.74 meters, initially played as a winger but has since transitioned to a central midfielder under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas at Como 1907 in Italy. Fabregas, who recognized Da Cunha’s potential, helped shift his role and significantly influenced his development. This move to Italy proved pivotal, as Da Cunha became a key player for Como, leading them to a strong second-place finish in Serie B in 2024 and securing his place in the national team. His journey from a struggling youth player to a rising star has been marked by resilience and adaptability, with his current contract at Como extended through 2031. Da Cunha’s path to the national team has been anything but linear. After a promising loan spell with Clermont in 2022, where he scored his first two Ligue 1 goals, he moved to Nice but found himself misclassified as a defender by the new coach, which led to confusion and a decision to leave. His time at Roanne, where he stood out in a match against Olympique Lyonnais in 2016, helped pave the way for his eventual move to Rennes. There, he signed professionally in 2018 and made his Europa League debut, but struggled to secure a regular spot in the first team. Despite these challenges, Da Cunha’s talent and perseverance have earned him recognition from former teammates and coaches, including Landry Chauvin of Rennes, who noted that Da Cunha’s potential was always clear. Now, with Zidane’s inclusion of him in the national team, Da Cunha represents a new wave of French midfielders, a contrast to the team’s struggles against Spain in the 2026 World Cup. With seven players from Rennes in Zidane’s squad, Da Cunha’s selection highlights a shift in France’s approach to talent development and the impact of coaches like Fabregas and Zidane in shaping the future of French football.