Crystal Palace defender Lacroix called up by France
Eagles star has World Cup chance
Lacroix previously vowed to represent his nation
Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix has been called up to France’s squad for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia this week. It’s been a long time coming for the Eagles’ fan favourite, who could make his international debut against Carlo Ancelotti’s Selecao.
Lacroix was initially omitted from Didier Deschamps’ squad for the last international break before the World Cup this summer. That’s despite his incredible performances throughout his time at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old seemed to have been a victim of big club bias. Seeing Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate make the squad ahead of him seemed to align with that thought process, given the Reds centre-back’s dissapointing season.
Lacroix Earns France Call Up
Lacroix has now got the nod following an injury to Arsenal defender William Saliba, causing the Gunners man to pull out of the squad. It’s a massive opportunity for the Palace star to impress and potentially earn his place on the plane to this summer’s World Cup.
A statement from the French Football Federation read:
“The Arsenal centre back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of 10 days. National coach Didier Deschamps has decided to replace him with Maxence Lacroix.”
1ère convocation en Bleu pour Maxence Lacroix 🇫🇷👏
Le défenseur de @CPFC, âgé de 25 ans et déjà passé par les sélections de jeunes, est attendu ce lundi à Clairefontaine.
🔄 Il remplace William Saliba, touché à la cheville gauche, à qui l’on souhaite un bon rétablissement. pic.twitter.com/DbSkTsjiKU
Lacroix has yet to represent his country at the senior level, but has earned caps at the youth level from the under-16s to the under-20s. Born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, he spent the early stages of his club career at FC Sochaux in France before moving to Wolfsburg in Germany in 2020.
Lacroix’s Vow Comes to Fruition
The Palace defender previously insisted he knew he’d eventually get his chance to represent his country. He spent years watching fellow defenders, Marc Guehi and Chris Richards, in action for England and the USA, respectively.
Speaking back in April 2025, he explained (via News Shopper):
“Yeah, of course [playing for France is a goal]. I think every player wants to play in a national team and wear the jersey of their country.”
Lacroix added:
“Next to me, I have Chris [Richards], who has played for the USA and Marc [Guehi], who everyone knows. It’s a good challenge. If they are there and they are at a good level, I can also be in my national team. They push me to give my best all the time, and one day I will be in the national team. I know. But right now it is about looking at what’s happening at Crystal Palace, the semi-final and winning the FA Cup.”
Lacroix’s call-up is a testament to his hard work during his time in South London and after becoming a crucial player in Oliver Glasner’s team. His lack of international recognition is more a reflection of the remarkable depth Les Bleus possess, with players like Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu, and RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba.
Matthew Guyett is an editorial lead at Dave.Sport with over five years of experience in sports journalism. They have been featured in GiveMeSport and TheRealChamps, specializing in writing and editing.
Matthew holds a BA Creative Writing degree and has personally become one of the highest actively read journalists in all outlets he has worked for.
When not writing and editing, they are watching football, studying statistics and keeping an eye on transfer news.
Follow Matthew Guyett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-guyett-94b336162/ | https://x.com/MalteserMatt
