AliousFormer Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris is reportedly weighing up a surprise return to international football, with the veteran goalkeeper said to be considering a place in France’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Now 39, Lloris has not featured for France national football team since their defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. That appearance saw him set a national record with 145 caps, cementing his status as France’s most-capped player. Shortly after the tournament in Qatar, the former OGC Nice and Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper announced his international retirement, stating it was time to step aside, focus on club commitments, and spend more time with his family.
However, reports from Le Parisien suggest that Lloris could be tempted back into the fold. An injury to Lucas Chevalier has potentially created an opening in Didier Deschamps’ squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
It’s believed Lloris would be open to returning as a third-choice option, behind Mike Maignan of AC Milan and Brice Samba, who currently plays for RC Lens and previously represented Nottingham Forest.
Chevalier, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from LOSC Lille last summer, had initially taken over as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, he later lost his starting spot, with Matvey Safonov now preferred between the posts.
The 24-year-old was still expected to make Deschamps’ World Cup squad, but a thigh injury sustained in training this week could sideline him for several weeks, potentially ruling him out of both the remainder of the season and the tournament itself.
Deschamps is set to announce his 26-man squad on May 14, and Lloris could emerge as a shock inclusion.
Lloris spent over a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, making more than 400 appearances and establishing himself as one of the club’s greatest goalkeepers before leaving in 2024 after falling out of favour under Ange Postecoglou. He then moved to Los Angeles FC, where he has remained a key figure, playing over 100 matches and helping the team lift the US Open Cup in his debut season.
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