Considered one of the best blind football players in the world, Frédéric Villeroux led the French team to a dream final at home against Argentina. Portrait of the iconic number 10, whose teammates do not hesitate to use all the superlatives to describe him.
A career start under the best auspices… In 1998, France, drunk with happiness, was world football champion for the first time in its history, and it was in that same year that Frédéric Villeroux began blind football.
Twenty-six years later, the indestructible French player is still here. Throughout the Paralympic Games, the captain of Les Bleus shone on the field to take the French team to a dream final on Saturday, September 7 against Argentina, the reigning world champion.
“Call him the alien,” laughs defender Hakim Arezki, after the semi-final won against Colombia with a goal from captain Villeroux.
For many, he is “the Messi of blind football”. For his teammates, he is simply “Fred”. “A very humble guy, who gives everything for the team”, praises Martin Baron. “He is a boat captain. He will not get off the boat halfway through.”
- FRANCE 24
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