Blaise Matuidi

Blaise Matuidi is a former French professional soccer player who most notably played for Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Inter Miami CF and the France national team with whom he won the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Blaise began his football career playing for amateur clubs in the Île-de-France region, such as US Fontenay-sous-Bois and CO Vincennois. In 1999, he was selected to attend the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. After departing Clairefontaine, Blaise joined semi-professional club Créteil and spent three years developing in the club's youth academy. In 2004, he signed with professional club Troyes and made his professional debut in the 2004–05 season. After three seasons with Troyes, Blaise joined Saint-Étienne. With Saint-Étienne, he played European football for the first time after participating in the 2008–09 edition of the UEFA Cup. In the 2009–10 season, he was named first-choice captain under manager Alain Perrin. In July 2011, after four seasons with Saint-Étienne, Blaise transferred to Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal. He won 16 domestic honours during his time with the club, including four consecutive Ligue 1 titles. In 2017, he joined Italian side Juventus, winning a domestic double in his first season, followed by two more consecutive league titles over the next two seasons, as well as the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana. He joined MLS club Inter Miami in the summer of 2020. He appeared in 16 games for Inter Miami, and 32 in 2021. Matuidi would later announce his retirement in 2022, putting the finishing touch on a legendary 18 year long career. Blaise is a former France youth international, having represented his nation at under-19 and under-21 level. In August 2010, Blaise was called up to the senior team for the first time under new manager Laurent Blanc. He made his international debut in September 2010 in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and has since represented his nation at two UEFA European Football Championships and two FIFA World Cups, winning a runners-up medal at Euro 2016, and a winner's medal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Please see the following articles related to Blaise’s retirement: Former Players Explain The Importance of Blaise Matuidi, Zlatan Ibrahimović to PSG Former Inter Miami Midfielder Blaise Matuidi Announces Retirement Blaise Matuidi: “If I ever come back to football, it would be in an entrepreneurial role.” Career Highlights and Awards: 2018 FIFA World Cup Winner (France) Ligue 1 Team of the Year: (2012–13, 2015–16) French Player of the Year (2015) Globe Soccer Awards Player Career Award (2018) Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) [Highest French Order of Merit] (2018)