Mike Maignan

Maignan is the rare modern keeper who genuinely shapes a team’s build-up shape rather than just supporting it. Deschamps has run France through phases of asking Maignan to play as a third centre-back in possession, splitting Saliba and Upamecano wide and starting attacks with chipped passes into the half-space. At his best — the 2024 Euro group stage, the Nations League run — he looked like the most complete goalkeeper in international football.

The questions are smaller now than they were a year ago. He has handled Milan’s coaching turbulence without dropping form, and France’s defence in front of him is built on two of the best young centre-backs alive. If Maignan is even close to his peak, France don’t concede more than five goals on the way to the final.

Strengths

• Distribution under press — comfortable as a sweeper-keeper in build-up
• Shot-stopping at close range, especially low to his left
• Cross-claiming in a packed box

Recent form

First-choice for both club and country; Milan's captaincy candidate in 2025-26.

One of only a handful of keepers in France national team history to wear the captain's armband during a senior international (in friendlies and qualifiers).