Laurent Blanc
Centre-back · Auxerre · France
About Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc — "Le Président" — is one of the finest French defenders in history and the man who scored the first-ever golden goal in World Cup history (1998). He is also notorious for kissing goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's bald head before every game at the 1998 World Cup as a lucky ritual. He was then suspended for the final after a sending-off in the semi-final — watching France win from the stands.
Laurent Blanc's story
The President
Blanc earned his nickname "Le Président" for his commanding presence and authority — on and off the pitch. He grew up in Alès in southern France and joined Auxerre's legendary academy. He became one of the finest ball-playing centre-backs of his generation — comfortable distributing from deep and reading the game with intelligence.
The Baldy Kiss
Before each of France's 1998 World Cup games, Blanc kissed goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's bald head for luck. The ritual became one of the tournament's most popular images — a combination of the pre-match nerves, superstition, and unusual physicality that defines World Cup ritual. France won every game. Until the semi-final, when Blanc was sent off after an incident with Slaven Bilić.
The Final Suspension
Blanc received a red card in the semi-final against Croatia — a disputed sending-off after what appeared to be a simulation by Bilić. He was suspended for the final against Brazil. He watched France win 3-0 from the stands in his suit, crying. His captain's armband was worn by Deschamps. He received his medal with the rest of the squad — a bittersweet conclusion to the greatest tournament of his career.
Did you know?
- 👴 He scored the first-ever golden goal in World Cup history — a 113th-minute header against Paraguay in 1998 — ending the match and sending France into the quarter-finals.
- 💋 His ritual of kissing Fabien Barthez's bald head before every match at the 1998 World Cup became one of football's most iconic pre-match images — a superstition that "worked" across 5 games before his suspension ended it.
- 👨👩👧👦 Married Béatrice; they have children. He settled in France and forged a successful coaching career with PSG and the French national side.
- 📊 He scored 16 international goals — an extraordinary return for a centre-back — including 6 at the 1998 World Cup, making him France's joint top scorer in the tournament.
- 🌟 Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Laurent Blanc was one of the most intelligent defenders I ever managed. He never sprinted, never panicked, never lost the ball. He simply read the game better than anyone else."
- 🧢 He managed France from 2010 to 2012, reaching the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. He later managed PSG from 2013 to 2016 — winning three consecutive Ligue 1 titles.
- ⚽ His ability to score important goals — headers, set pieces, decisive away goals — gave France a combination of defensive solidity and attacking contribution rarely seen from a centre-back.
- 🤝 His central defensive partnership with Marcel Desailly was the physical and technical backbone of France's 1998 World Cup win — Desailly's strength combined with Blanc's distribution and reading of the game.
- 🏟️ He remains the only player in World Cup history to score a golden goal — as FIFA abandoned the golden goal rule after the 2002 World Cup, making his goal against Paraguay permanently unique.
Honours
- FIFA World Cup: France (1998) — scored first golden goal in WC history
- UEFA Euro: France (2000)
- Premier League: Manchester United (2003)
- La Liga: Barcelona (1997)
- First Golden Goal in World Cup History: 1998 vs Paraguay — 113th minute
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