Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta earned his first cap for France in their 3-0 win over Azerbaijan on Friday night.
Jean-Philippe Mateta‘s fine form for Crystal Palace over the last two years has finally landed him in the France national side, and on Friday Mateta earned his first cap for France.
The 28-year-old came off the bench with 10 minutes to play as France beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier, with Didier Deschamps’ side next playing Iceland on Monday night.
In the last two-and-a-bit seasons, Mateta has scored 32 Premier League goals for Palace and he has two in seven league games for Oliver Glasner’s side this time round.
And against Iceland, Mateta could now be making an unexpected start for the French.
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Kylian Mbappe injury news is bittersweet for Jean-Philippe Mateta
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe led the line for France on Friday. He scored one and assisted one but was forced off the pitch towards the end of the game with an ankle issue, with Deschamps telling Telegrafi after the game: “It’s the same ankle he injured. The pain goes away when he rests. In a match, contact is inevitable. We will evaluate it. He has concerns that are not ideal for him.”
Mbappe will now miss the Iceland game and Mateta is the only other out and out no.9, so he looks set to make his first start for the national side on Monday.
But it’s bittersweet for Mateta who surely would’ve wanted to play with Mbappe, rather than replace him. Mateta and Mbappe were on the pitch for just four minutes together before the latter was forced off injured.
Mateta already says he’s better than Kylian Mbappe is four areas
Mbappe has now scored in each of his last 10 games for club and country, and in 2025/26 he’s scored a total of 18 goals for club and country already.
He’s without doubt one of the best players in the world right now. But Mateta says he’s better than Mbappe in certain areas, saying during this month’s international break: “They’re faster, but I’m stronger. I have a striker’s instinct, I protect the ball well, and I’m good in the air.”
Mateta and Mbappe are certainly two different types of strikers with Mbappe more of a run-in-behind player and Mateta more of a target man.
But Mateta’s confidence in himself is good and deserved after the couple of years he’s had at Selhurst Park. Now he just has to prove that he belongs with the likes of Mbappe in the French side.
