The French defence giant

At the 2026 World Cup, France seem simply unstoppable.

Since Didier Deschamps took charge of the national team in 2012, Les Bleus have established themselves as one of the leading powers in world football. During this period, they have won two major titles – the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League – and have also reached two other finals: the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup. On the only occasions they finished as runners-up, they were defeated by two teams led by giants of football history: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in 2016 and Lionel Messi’s Argentina in 2022.

Now, at the 2026 World Cup, France are aiming to win their third world title. To do so, they have a star-studded squad, led by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé – an eight-time nominee for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ – and last year’s winner, Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain.

The pair form an attacking duo capable of causing problems for any defence in the world, and are flanked by other highly dangerous players such as Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Désiré Doué, also of PSG.

But it would be a mistake to suggest that France’s dominance on the international stage is down solely to their attack. The team also boasts a top-class defensive system.

And, when looking at the French defence in this World Cup, one name stands out: William Saliba.

At 25, the centre-back has established himself as an undisputed first-choice player under Didier Deschamps. In this tournament, he has played the full 90 minutes in three of France’s four matches.

His importance to the team is immense. Even without being as visible as the forwards, it is the reassurance Saliba provides at the back that helps underpin the team’s results. Much of this is down to his 16 defensive actions, which helped ensure France conceded just one goal whilst he was on the pitch. At the other end, the team scored nine times, and Saliba also played his part in building up play with 12 incisive passes into the final third.

The defender’s career path is all the more remarkable when we remember that, just four years ago at the last World Cup, he was treated as a squad option and barely featured. His only appearance came in a group stage match, when France had already secured their place in the round of 16.

In this tournament, however, leaving Saliba on the bench would be unthinkable. After all, he arrived at the World Cup on the back of an exceptional season as one of the cornerstones of Arsenal’s defence.

And, just as with the French national team, his career at the English club has also been marked by a gradual progression until he became an indispensable player.

The emergence of a centre-back

William Alain André Gabriel Saliba was born in Bondy, in the Île-de-France region on the north-eastern outskirts of Paris, on 24 March 2001.

Saliba began playing football at the age of six at AS Bondy, his local club, where he was coached by Wilfrid Mbappé, father of the future French star Kylian Mbappé. At that time, he still dreamt of becoming a striker. The son of a Cameroonian mother, his greatest inspiration was one of the greatest players in Cameroon’s history: centre-forward Samuel Eto’o, an eight-time nominee for theBallon d'Or. His other idol was, perhaps unsurprisingly for someone born in the 21st century, Lionel Messi, winner of eight Ballons d’Or. As Saliba himself explained: “When you’re little, you don’t sit watching centre-backs [laughs]. You only watch the centre-forwards or the wingers.” (Sky Sports Premier League)

“Even if I’d had to be a goalkeeper to turn professional, I would have done it.” – William Saliba

He even went as far as having trials as a striker at a few clubs, but wasn’t selected.

At the age of 14, he joined MC Montfermeil, where he underwent a transformation that would change his career. It was there that he began to be trained as a centre-back. Instead of resisting the change, he faced the challenge head-on and realised that, sometimes, you have to adapt to achieve your goal: “God decided I’d be a centre-back, and I’m very happy with that. Even if I’d had to be a goalkeeper to turn professional, I’d have done it.” (GQ)

Today, he recognises that the decision was crucial to his career path: “If I’d carried on as a striker, I wouldn’t be at Arsenal today. I still think I would have become a professional player – perhaps in the fourth tier, or even the third. But not at Arsenal.” (Stadium Astro)

Looking back, the switch seems to have been an obvious one. After all, Saliba possesses virtually all the attributes of an elite centre-back: physical strength, intelligence, commanding presence, the ability to play the ball out from the back, excellent recovery skills and a tireless determination to win.

In 2016, at the age of 15, Saliba made the leap to the top flight of French football, joining Saint-Étienne, the club with whom he signed his first professional contract two years later. His performances caught the eye of several European clubs, including London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

A childhood dream

In 2019, at the age of 19, Saliba chose to play for the red side of London for one simple reason: he had been an Arsenal fan since he was a child. He remembers his mum giving him a Thierry Henry shirt, spending hours watching videos of the legendary French striker on YouTube, and following the team’s Champions League matches on television.

Another important factor was the strong historical link between Arsenal and France. The greatest manager in the club’s history, Arsène Wenger, is French, as are some of the ‘Gunners’ greatest idols, such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pirès and Emmanuel Petit. More recently, other prominent French players have also worn the club’s shirt, such as Olivier Giroud and Alexandre Lacazette. One of them, midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi, even encouraged Saliba to choose Arsenal whilst he was still playing for Saint-Étienne.

At the time of his signing, Arsenal were managed by Unai Emery and had just completed their first full season following Wenger’s departure. The team had their moments, but finished the Premier League campaign in fifth place, just one point behind Tottenham, and missed out on Champions League qualification.

Saliba wanted to help the club during that period of rebuilding, but he would still have to wait a little longer for that opportunity. His journey ended up becoming a great example of how patience and perseverance can make all the difference.

The long wait

Shortly after signing his contract, he was loaned back to Saint-Étienne for the 2019–20 season.

Rather than becoming frustrated by the decision – eager to begin his journey at Arsenal – he reacted in the same way he had when he had to switch from being a striker to a centre-back: he adapted to the circumstances and continued to work hard, giving his all every day.

In an interview at the time, he made it clear that he saw the loan as an opportunity, not an obstacle: “It’s important for me to spend my first season on loan back at Saint-Étienne, because I want to prove myself for another year there before trying to establish myself here at Arsenal. This is a big club, so when you arrive here, you need to be ready. I’ll try to have a great season at the club that brought me through to ensure I’m ready for Arsenal.” (Arsenal)

And that is exactly what he did. Saliba had an excellent season and helped the club from the east-central region of France reach its first French Cup final since 1982.

He had dreamt of playing in the final, but ended up missing out. The final was postponed due to the pandemic and, by the time it finally took place, his loan deal had already expired. Without their key centre-back on the pitch, the team were eventually defeated by Neymar’s Paris Saint-Germain, a side that has been nominated nine times for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award.

In total, Saliba made 36 appearances for Saint-Étienne.

Saliba returned to Arsenal in mid-2020 and was handed the number 4 shirt by the new manager, Mikel Arteta. His debut for the club came in a pre-season friendly against Milton Keynes Dons in August.

Would this be the season in which he would finally establish himself at the club he had supported since childhood?

Not yet.

He was not registered for the team’s main competitions and played only a few matches for the Under-23s. In January 2021, he was loaned out to France once again, this time to Nice, until the end of the season.

He settled in straight away. That very same month, he was named the club’s Player of the Month, in recognition of a brief but extremely positive spell. In 22 appearances for Nice, Saliba also scored his first goal as a professional, something he had failed to achieve during his time at Saint-Étienne.

When the loan spell ended, he believed he would finally get his chance at Arsenal.

But, once again, he had to wait.

In July 2021, he was loaned out again, this time to the historic Olympique de Marseille, where he was reunited with his compatriot and former Arsenal team-mate, Guendouzi.

Just as he had done on the two previous occasions, Saliba did not view yet another loan spell as a setback, but as a fresh chance to prove his worth and continue to develop. And at Marseille, he exceeded all expectations.

Over the course of 52 matches that season, he helped the club reach the semi-finals of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League and secure a place in the Champions League. Facing some of the world’s best strikers week after week, he was voted Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was also named in the league’s Team of the Season.

It wasn’t long before Marseille tried to sign him on a permanent basis. Other clubs also showed interest, but Saliba remained true to the plan he had set out from the start: he wouldn’t give up, he wouldn’t change course. His goal remained to play for Arsenal.

This conviction was fuelled not only by the affection he’d felt for the club since childhood, but also by the constant support of the fans, who were calling for him to be given a chance under Mikel Arteta. As Saliba himself said: “I have a special connection with the Arsenal fans because, even when I was out on loan – when I wasn’t playing here – they’d always send me messages saying that one day I’d play for this club, that I shouldn’t give up. Of course, I’ll never forget that.” (Arsenal)

His determination was unshakeable. No matter how many loan spells lay ahead or how many disappointments he had to face, he was convinced that one day he would play for Arsenal.

And that confidence would ultimately prove prophetic.

The chance that changed everything

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Saliba finally got the opportunity he’d been waiting for – to pull on the Arsenal shirt in the Premier League. His debut came on the opening day in August, away from home against Crystal Palace. The Gunners won 2–0, and the defender’s performance caught the attention of fans and experts around the world. To this day, he considers that to be one of the most memorable moments of his career: “One of the best moments of my career so far was when I returned from my loan spell in 2022. Of course I wanted to play straight away, but I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. I started playing in the league straight away… and I played well.” (Arsenal)

Just two weeks after his debut, Saliba scored his first goal for the club: an unexpected strike from outside the box against Bournemouth, which went on to be voted Arsenal’s Goal of the Month.

His patience had paid off. After so many loan spells and a long wait, he was finally reaping the rewards of his own perseverance.

Since then, it has been nothing but an upward trajectory for the Frenchman.

As well as establishing himself as a first-choice starter in Arsenal’s defence alongside the Brazilian Gabriel Magalhães, Saliba has come to be recognised as one of the team’s most consistent and reliable players.

And it is precisely this attitude – believing in himself, not giving up in the face of adversity and staying patient during the toughest times – that continues to define his career.

In his very first season with the club, he was a key figure in the campaign that put Arsenal in the running for the Premier League title. But in March 2023, a few months before the end of the season, he suffered a back injury in a Europa League match against Sporting and was sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

The absence of such a key centre-back ultimately took its toll in the final stretch. Without Saliba, Arsenal lost momentum in the title race and saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City take the lead and claim yet another English title.

Did that shake Saliba?

Once again, no.

He picked himself up and prepared for the next challenge.

The following season, Saliba showed once again that giving up was never an option. As well as recovering from his injury, he became the first player in Arsenal’s history (excluding goalkeepers) to play every minute of a Premier League season in the club’s modern era.

His consistent performances throughout the campaign earned the defender his first nomination for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ at the end of the year – recognition of his performance amongst the elite of world football.

Even so, Arsenal came up short once again and finished as Premier League runners-up for the second year running.

The following season brought yet another second-place finish.

But despite these successive disappointments, Saliba never stopped believing in himself or in the club’s project. Even as he attracted interest from other teams, he remained true to the dream he’d had since childhood: to win titles in an Arsenal shirt.

A dream come true

Ahead of the 2025–26 season, he signed a new long-term contract with the club.

Was all that persistence, that unshakeable confidence, a mistake?

Was he turning down better opportunities?

What if the title never came?

That possibility never even crossed his mind.

Last season was the best of Saliba’s career. Alongside Magalhães, he formed a centre-back partnership that came to be regarded by many as the best – or, at the very least, one of the best – in world football.

And finally, after years and years of trying, coming close but falling short, the big moment had finally arrived. Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 24 years, and Saliba was able to lift the trophy he’d dreamt of for so long. When the club had last been champions, he was still a baby.

The weight of the world’s expectations rested on his shoulders – and on those of the rest of the squad – after they’d come so close so many times. But rather than feeling the pressure of the moment, Saliba embraced the challenge. As he puts it himself: “Pressure is a privilege.” (Arsenal)

“Football moves far too fast: if you let your guard down, someone will come along to take your place straight away.” – William Saliba

The centre-back’s outstanding performances were also crucial in taking Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years. The title ultimately slipped away against PSG, but Saliba’s journey shows that defeats were never a reason to give up. On the contrary: they always served as fuel to come back even stronger and try again.

For a player who, at one point, seemed to have no place at Arsenal and was loaned out three times in a row to different clubs, the transformation is remarkable. Today, Saliba has made 184 appearances for the club and has established himself as one of the key figures in defence. Every now and then, he still shows a glimpse of the striker he dreamt of becoming as a child, having scored eight goals and provided three assists.

Even though he’s a first-choice starter whenever he’s available, Saliba is determined not to rest on his laurels: “This is where I dreamed of being: a first-choice starter at a big club. It’s something I love. I knew I had the qualities and talent to be a top-class player, so I fought to return to Arsenal and show that my place was there. I’m careful not to get complacent. Football moves far too fast: if you relax, someone will come along to take your place straight away.” (GQ)

The turnaround with the national team

This same story of patience and perseverance is also reflected in Saliba’s journey with the French national team.

As we saw at the start of this article, his role at the 2022 World Cup was very different from what it is today. At that time, he was clearly a substitute, an option to round out the squad. His main role was to stand in for Raphaël Varane, then aged 29 and considered by many to be France’s undisputed first-choice centre-back. Throughout the tournament, Saliba was precisely that: the second choice.

But, just as has happened so many times in his club career, he didn’t let that get him down: “I spent the whole 2022 World Cup sitting on the bench! Of course, that gives you experience, but I said to myself: ‘Next time, I’ve got to be on the pitch.’ It made me stronger.” (GQ)

And, once again, his words proved prophetic.

At the 2026 World Cup, Saliba arrived as one of the undisputed first-team regulars in the French defence, having already made 35 appearances for the senior side – and that tally continues to rise.

The power of perseverance

At 25, he is regarded by fans, coaches, journalists and fellow players as one of the best centre-backs in the world. Strong, consistent, assured and reliable, he has become an indispensable figure both at one of the world’s biggest clubs and in one of the strongest national teams in world football.

This journey to the top, as we have seen, was by no means easy.

It required patience, adaptability, versatility, determination, confidence and a great deal of dedication.

For Saliba, however, all of this is part of the story he has built: “It makes the story all the more beautiful, because it wasn’t easy from the start. I had to work hard and go through some really tough times. So, today I’m very happy. I’m enjoying every match.” (UEFA)