Lloris, Mbappé, but also Marlon and Romero: ten former Nice and Monaco players will compete in the Club World Cup in the United States

The 2018 world champion is having a blast on the Pacific coast. With Los Angeles FC, California's second-largest soccer franchise after the LA Galaxy, the 38-year-old former Nice player won the US Open Cup last season. In a squad that qualified for this World Cup following the exclusion of Mexico's Leon, he's still having fun with Olivier Giroud as a teammate. He wants to use the World Cup to show that MLS is up to par.

2. A. Tchouameni (Real Madrid)

When Aurélien Tchouameni left Monaco in the summer of 2022 after two successful seasons, Philippe Clement lost a leader and no one took over. The following season, ASM sank ( ^6th in Ligue 1 and missing out on European competition). Since then, in Madrid, the 25-year-old former Bordeaux player has filled in at the center of defense or played in his midfield position. The world championship runner-up has sometimes impressed, sometimes been booed by his fans, disappointed with his performance. Despite winning the Champions League in 2024, he is not spectacular or decisive enough for his detractors.

3. K. Mbappé (Real Madrid)

The captain of Les Bleus needs no introduction. The former Monaco player, who won the European Golden Boot after scoring 31 goals in 34 La Liga matches this season, made a strong debut for Real Madrid. But the Champions League and the league have eluded him, and the Club World Cup represents a goal to improve the team's record, which is already adorned with two minor trophies: the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. The 26-year-old striker hasn't given up in the race for the Ballon d'Or despite Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal being ahead of him. A title would help him reshuffle the deck.

4. Bernardo Silva (Man. City)

Bernardo Silva's future with the Citizens has been a hot topic for several summers. 2025 is no exception, as the Portuguese player is reportedly still appealing to Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old Portuguese international winger has passed the 400-game mark for City (404). Pep Guardiola knows what he owes to a man who has been criticized by his fans for over a year due to his declining performances and stats (5 goals, 4 assists in 49 games this season). The Spanish coach championed him last season, liking his versatility, but a new cycle has begun at City, and Silva's contract will be out next summer. A sale is therefore possible.

5. K. Thuram (Juventus)

Gym fans miss his ball-playing. For his first season in Turin, Lilian's son was in the mood for a club that began a rebuild and changed coaches in March (Tudor replaced Motta). He made 34 starts in 47 outings, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists. The 24-year-old midfielder, who also played for ASM, formed a solid partnership with Manuel Locatelli in the Old Lady's midfield.

6. L. Ocampos (Monterrey)

The Argentinian contributed to Monaco's return to the top flight, winning Ligue 2 in 2013. He now plays for Monterrey, a teammate of Sergio Ramos in Mexico. The 30-year-old attacking midfielder has only two goals and four assists in 30 games during the 2024-2025 season. At the center of a cryptocurrency fraud investigation in Spain, where he won two Europa Leagues with Sevilla FC (2020, 2023), he has not prepared well for this World Cup.

7. T. Lemar (Atlético)

A 2017 French champion with Monaco, the former Caen player was transferred a year later to Atlético Madrid following a world championship title. In the process, ASM pocketed €72 million. Since then, under Diego Simeone, the 29-year-old winger has won the 2021 La Liga title. A regular upon his arrival, he has gradually lost his place, hampered by recurring injuries. Over the past two seasons, he has played only 11 matches, suffering from muscle issues and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

8. Danilo Barbosa (Botafogo)

The Brazilian arrived in the Côte d'Azur capital in 2018. He left after 50 matches and four seasons, interspersed with a loan spell at Palmeiras, where he won the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League. He returned to the competition in 2024 with Botafogo, a club where he isn't a regular starter. John Textor's team reportedly tried to involve him in several deals earlier this year to replenish their squad. The 29-year-old former Nice player reportedly wanted to stay.

9. S. Romero (Boca)

Nine games into the 2013-14 season: Sergio Romero hasn't made his mark at Monaco. But the 38-year-old goalkeeper has bounced back. David De Gea's backup at Manchester United (2015-21), the 2014 World Cup finalist with Argentina won the Europa League in 2017. Returning home to Boca Juniors in 2022, he was heroic in his club's run to the 2023 Copa Libertadores final. Between the round of 16 and the semi-finals, he saved six of eleven shots on goal. Only his right knee held him back. Already operated on twice, he underwent another arthroscopy in mid-January and has yet to play again. Goalkeeper duties are expected to be taken by another veteran, Agustin Marchesin (37), for the Xeneizes, who have just changed coaches.

10. Marlon (Los Angeles FC)

Arriving in 2017 on loan from Barça for two seasons with a €20 million purchase option, the central defender never established himself at Nice despite the presence of his compatriot Dante at his side. Under Lucien Favre, in competition with Malang Sarr, the Brazilian was favored by the Swiss. Right-footed, unlike Sarr's left-footedness, he allowed Dante to play as a left-back. Ultimately, his adventure was cut short. He was not retained at the end of his first season. He bounced back at Sassuolo and then Donetsk under Roberto de Zerbi. Monza and Fluminense followed, before Los Angeles FC, where he arrived in September at the age of 29. In recent months, he has been protecting Lloris' goal, alternating with captain Aaron Long.