Jean Philippe Mateta saa vihdoin maajoukkuekutsun Ranskalle kulttisuosikista Selhurst Parkilla Les Bleus hyökkääjäksi
Sometimes football dreams take decades to ripen. For Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, the moment has finally arrived at 28 years old: a first-ever call-up to the French national team. Didier Deschamps has named him in the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, a milestone that felt almost out of reach not long ago.
Next week France face Azerbaijan in Paris, before heading to Reykjavik to meet Iceland a few days later. For Mateta, it could be the start of something bigger—or just enough to write himself into the story of Les Bleus.
Deschamps Backs a Wildcard
It isn’t exactly a fairytale coincidence that Mateta’s name came up now. France are dealing with a serious striker shortage: Marcus Thuram is sidelined, Ousmane Dembélé is out, and Randal Kolo Muani hasn’t yet hit convincing form at Spurs.
That opened the door, and Deschamps decided to push it wide open. The coach described Mateta as a player who provides a different kind of attacking option, pointing back to his Olympic summer of 2024, when he scored four goals and carried France to silver in Paris.
In a squad notoriously overflowing with creative forwards, Deschamps has reached for something old-fashioned—a target man whose physical style makes defenders miserable.
From Patchy Start to Palace Icon
Mateta’s path to the top hasn’t been straightforward. First arriving at Selhurst Park on loan from Mainz in 2021, he struggled to settle in his early seasons. Injuries and inconsistency made him more of a fringe player than a star.
But in the past 18 months, something has clicked. Under Oliver Glasner, Mateta has been given real belief and responsibility, and he’s responded with goals: four in his first 10 league games this season. That’s more than just numbers. Palace fans have fallen in love with his work rate, his honest style, and, of course, his exuberant celebrations.
There’s something about him—an infectious energy—that’s made Mateta more than a scorer; he’s become a cult hero in south London.
A Throwback Striker in a Modern Game
In a football world dominated by versatile forwards who float between lines, Mateta looks almost like an anomaly. He thrives in aerial battles, holds off defenders, and gets his shots away with determination. What he doesn’t bring is silky link-up play or Benzema-level finesse.
But every team occasionally needs exactly that uncomplicated weapon: a direct No. 9 who can turn long balls into half-chances, bull through tight spaces, or rise above defenders for a match-saving header. For Deschamps, Mateta isn’t just a gap-filler—he’s a tactical curveball.
Late Breakthrough, Big Stakes
Breaking into the France squad at 28 is unusual. Most French stars announce themselves in blue before they can even rent a car. But Mateta’s story shows another path: steady growth, setbacks, and finally a moment where patience pays off.
If he impresses in these qualifiers, there’s a realistic chance he could book a ticket to next year’s World Cup. Even when Thuram and Dembélé return, a different kind of forward—someone with grit and size—could still have a role to play.
All Eyes on Azerbaijan
So the countdown begins. If Mateta is going to make his international debut, Azerbaijan looks like the perfect testing ground: a theoretically easier opponent, a chance for Deschamps to rotate, and for Mateta to show he’s more than just a novelty.
One early goal could change the entire conversation. After all, Olivier Giroud once went from relative obscurity to France’s most trusted spearhead—another late arrival who made himself undroppable.
A Career-Defining Two Weeks
For Jean-Philippe Mateta, pulling on the France shirt is already a career-defining achievement. Whatever happens next, Palace fans will cheer him on with extra pride. But the stakes are bigger now: is this simply a reward for good form, a quick cameo in a time of need? Or does France’s latest debutant have a real chance to carve out his place in Deschamps’ plans long-term?
The next two games might just give us the answer.
Possible magazine-style headline options:
- Crystal Palace’s Cult Hero Gets His Shot in Blue
- Jean-Philippe Mateta: The Late Bloomer Who Won’t Stop Believing
- From Selhurst to Stade de France: Mateta’s Moment Arrives
👉 What do you think—will Mateta turn this chance into more than a cameo, or is he destined to be a one-tournament wonder?