Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has earned widespread praise in France after making his senior international debut in a 4-1 Nations League victory over Belgium.
The 20-year-old completed the full 90 minutes for Zinedine Zidane's side on Monday and impressed during his battle with Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
Yoro's performance comes at a significant point in his season. Despite making four appearances for Manchester United in 2026/27, he has accumulated only 22 minutes of Premier League football.
French media impressed by Yoro against Belgium
Several French outlets highlighted Yoro as one of the standout performers against Belgium.
L'Equipe described the Manchester United centre-back's debut as “convincing”, while Le Parisien praised his physical performance and his ability to handle Lukaku.
Foot Mercato awarded Yoro an 8.1/10 rating, the highest given to a France player in its assessment of the match. The outlet also highlighted how effectively the defender dealt with Lukaku.
Footeo described Yoro as “one of the pleasant surprises of the international break”.
The assessments are particularly encouraging given the level of opposition Yoro faced on his first senior appearance. Rather than being eased into international football, the defender was tested directly against an experienced centre-forward and completed the entire match.
Zidane praises Yoro after France debut
Zidane also spoke positively about Yoro after the victory, explaining that France had turned to the United youngster following Ibrahima Konate's absence.
“There’s a lot of competition for that position, and when we lost Ibrahima Konate, we immediately wanted to take Leny,” Zidane said.
“I’m happy for him because he had a great game. He fulfilled his role well. I’m happy for all these young players in the French national team.”
France's victory continued their unbeaten start under Zidane. They have collected three wins and a draw from four matches in Nations League Group 1, leaving them top with 10 points.
Yoro will now hope his debut has strengthened his case for another call-up when France reconvene for their November Nations League fixtures.
Yoro returns to Manchester United after international breakthrough
The immediate question is whether Yoro can carry the momentum from his France performance back to Old Trafford.
He has yet to establish himself in Manchester United's Premier League starting XI this season, with his 22 league minutes underlining the contrast between Monday's international opportunity and his situation at club level.
United face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, although the supplied report expects Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez to remain the preferred central-defensive pairing.
Yoro's display against Belgium nevertheless provides fresh evidence of his ability to compete at senior international level. His next challenge is turning that performance into more regular opportunities for United.
Key Points
- Leny Yoro completed 90 minutes on his senior France debut in a 4-1 win over Belgium.
- French media praised his performance, particularly his battle with Romelu Lukaku.
- Foot Mercato awarded Yoro an 8.1/10 rating, its highest mark for a France player.
- Zinedine Zidane said the Manchester United defender had a “great game”.
- Yoro has played only 22 minutes in the Premier League this season, according to the supplied report.
What’s Next?
Yoro returns to Manchester United ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Tottenham. His performance for France gives him momentum, but the next significant step will be earning more substantial club minutes. November's international fixtures could then offer another opportunity if Zidane retains him in the France squad.
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