World Cup 2026: Could Hugo Lloris make a comeback with France at 39?
Hugo Lloris, who announced his international retirement on January 9, 2023, just days after France lost the World Cup final to Argentina on penalties in Qatar, is reportedly considering coming out of retirement to be part of the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Not as a starter, but as third-choice keeper behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba. At 39, the France appearance record holder with 145 caps is still playing for Los Angeles FC in MLS, where he is an undisputed starter and has conceded just four goals in nine matches this season.
A source close to the 2018 world champion told L’Equipe about the former France captain’s thinking. “Out of modesty and respect for the goalkeepers already there, he would never campaign for it. He doesn’t want to be the one taking someone else’s spot. But of course he wouldn’t turn down a call-up to the France squad.” Lloris, who has known the United States well for two years now, sees this World Cup as the perfect final act alongside the next wave of French talent.
According to RMC Sport, though, Didier Deschamps has no plans to bring his former captain back. The coach will name his squad on May 14, and several names are in the frame for the third spot between the posts. For now, Lloris remains an appealing but unlikely scenario.
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Lucas Chevalier stuck, the door opens for others
If Lloris is being talked about, it is largely because of Lucas Chevalier’s situation. Deschamps’s usual third keeper is going through a rough spell at PSG. Since January 23 and a defeat at Auxerre, the former Lille man has not played a single match, with Luis Enrique having firmly preferred Matvey Safonov in Paris’s pecking order. Five months without a game heading into a World Cup is a serious mark against his selection.
That situation opens the door to several options. Alphonse Areola, France’s third goalkeeper at every major tournament since the 2018 World Cup, could slot back into his usual role. A starter at West Ham, the former PSG man remains reliable at a high level and knows exactly what would be expected of him. He is the most obvious choice if Deschamps decides not to back Chevalier.
But the coach could also spring a surprise. Jean Butez, 30, has established himself as one of Serie A’s most dependable goalkeepers with Como this season. Robin Risser, 21 and first choice at Lens, offers the profile of a young talent to bring into the group and groom for the future. Two names Deschamps has never called up before, but whose form makes a first selection hard to ignore.
Lloris ready, but Deschamps may already have made his mind up
The third goalkeeper spot is rarely the issue that sets tongues wagging before a major tournament. This time, though, it touches several angles at once: managing the tail end of a career, rewarding club consistency and taking a shot on youth. Deschamps, true to form, is expected to lean toward experience and security. He has always preferred trusted figures when the stakes are high.
Lloris is a symbol of a golden French era all by himself. Captain when France won the World Cup in 2018 and a presence at four World Cups, he remains a respected figure in the national-team dressing room. But football is not played on memories, and Deschamps knows that better than most. Unless there is a major twist before May 14, the former Tottenham keeper should be watching the World Cup from Los Angeles.
There are three weeks left before the squad is announced. Three weeks in which Chevalier’s situation at PSG is unlikely to change, while the performances of Butez and Risser will be watched closely. Deschamps has a habit of keeping his cards close to his chest until the very end. The suspense over France’s third goalkeeper will run right to the wire.
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