Who will raise the cup with big ears, in Munich, on May 31? One thing is certain, a Frenchman will be part of it. But who will be the lucky one? Between confirmed stars such as Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard or Ousmane Dembélé and young talents like Désiré Doué, the race for Europe promises …
France will necessarily have a representative on the roof of Europe. All clubs still engaged in the largest European competition have, at least, a French international in their ranks. Between, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, FC Barcelona and Inter Milan, which compete for the semi-finals of the Champions League, the trophy will necessarily be in the hands of a head of the blue locker room.
The elimination of Borussia Dortmund, this Tuesday evening, last club in the running without a player selected in the French team, guarantees that at least one Tricolor will raise the cup to the big ears, in Munich on May 31. But who will he be?
On the Barça side: Jules Koundé, pillar and the most used player of the team. The Italian team of Inter Milan can rely on Benjamin Pavard, author of a goal against Bayern Munich in the quarter -finals and on Marcus Thuram.
-On the other side of the painting, Arsenal, after his victory against Real Madrid, can count on William Saliba. But it is indeed Paris Saint-Germain which has the highest number of tricolor players with seven French heads. Among them, Lucas Hernandez, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery, but also Presnel Kimpembe or the young Senny Mayulu, all appeared this season in competition.
A glorious tricolor heritage
The Champions League has often been the favorite French playground. From Raymond Kopa, triple winner with Real Madrid in the 1950s, to Aurélien Tchouameni, sacred in 2024, 49 Tricolores have engraved their name in the history of competition.
Among them, Michel Platini, winner with Juventus in 1985, Zinedine Zidane, with Real Madrid in 2002 or Karim Benzema, five -time winner with Real Madrid again in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
These French legends inscribed in the pantheon of European football inspire new generations. For players like Désiré Doué or Marcus Thuram, winning the C1 would be a nice way to enter this ranking. This May 31, the Allianz Arena of Munich will necessarily be the scene of a historic moment for our Tricolores.
