French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari Defends Lucky Stars Gift and Addresses Zidane Rumors

2026-07-24

French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari is still feeling the fallout from her pre-World Cup gesture. Appearing on Sud Radio, Ferrari addressed the media storm surrounding the "lucky stars" she gifted to Les Bleus during a June visit alongside President Emmanuel Macron at Clairefontaine.

"It was simply a friendly gesture, a small lucky charm," Ferrari explained. "They were star-shaped, which gave people room to talk. They were blue and white—a third red one would’ve been nice! It was purely symbolic."

Despite critics trying to paint her in a negative light, Ferrari maintained her affection for the squad, adding: "It wasn’t meant to make headlines. But some kind souls wanted to make me look like a madwoman. That's fine. My affection for the players remains unchanged."

Zidane Rumors and Mbappé’s Ballon d'Or Case

When pressed on the widely anticipated appointment of Zinedine Zidane to replace Didier Deschamps—expected to become official on Tuesday, July 28—Ferrari stated she had "no official updates."

Conversation quickly shifted to Kylian Mbappé. Following a stellar campaign featuring Golden Boots in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, Ferrari backed his Ballon d'Or credentials: "Why not? I think it would be great for his career. He was exceptional this tournament."

Ferrari also condemned the vile online abuse directed at players—most notably Lucas Digne, who faced heavy harassment following a decisive penalty foul.

"This is about fighting all forms of discrimination and violence," Ferrari asserted. "It is unacceptable in sports and society today."

Looking Ahead: Joint Bids and Major Events

Finally, addressing Le Parisien reports regarding a potential joint France-Germany World Cup bid, Ferrari kept doors open: "I haven't been formally consulted yet, but it fits our policy of hosting major international events and growing our sports economy."

With the 2030 Winter Olympics serving as the crown jewel, France continues leveraging the world-class expertise built since 2024.