Leeds number one goalkeeper Illan Meslier has become one of the most important players at Elland Road, but now the French shot stopper has a great opportunity to take his already-impressive young career to the next level.
Yesterday, French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from the international team. The 36 year old holds the record for most appearances with France, following the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina when he gained his 145th cap.
Lloris’ decision to step away from the national side will open the door for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to jump in between the sticks for France. The 27 year old has already played 5 times for his national side.
However, there is a case to be made for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to step up to the challenge and compete with Maignan for the number one spot.
Meslier is often dubbed as the Iceman by the Leeds faithful, due to his consistently solid performances in goal for Leeds. The 22 year old hasn’t missed a minute of Premier League action this season, and played all 38 games in the league during the 2021-22 campaign. He also set the record for most clean sheets for a Premier League goalkeeper under the age of 21, claiming an impressive total of 11 clean sheets in the 2020-21 Premier League season.
Meslier is a fan favourite at Elland Road. The club and fans alike are aware of his quality, and it’s often hard to believe he’s still only 22. Recent reports suggest that Leeds would be turning down any approaches for the Iceman, showing just how crucial he is in the Whites’ plans.
If Meslier is to challenge for the number one spot with the French national team, he’ll have some big shoes (or gloves!) to fill. Hugo Lloris holds the record for most times captaining France, with a massive total of 121 times. The Tottenham keeper won a World Cup medal with France in 2018, and was part of the side that finished second in the competition last month in Qatar.
Right now, its likely that Maignan will take the starting position in Didier Deschamp’s side, given his experience. However, there’s no reason why Meslier shouldn’t be challenging for the role. He has 11 caps for the U-21 national side, and narrowly missed out on a spot on the plane to Qatar with the first team squad. You would imagine that most Leeds fans believe their star man will be eyeing up his nation’s goalkeeper in the next couple of years, and Lloris’ departure will bring him a step closer to it.