Maxence Guy Lacroix (French pronunciation: [maksɑ̃s lakʁwa]; born 6 April 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the France national team.
_73.jpg) Lacroix warming up for Sochaux in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maxence Guy Lacroix[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 April 2000[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Crystal Palace | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Limeyrat | ||
| 2008–2011 | Montignacoise | ||
| 2011–2012 | FCTLF | ||
| 2012–2015 | Trélissac | ||
| 2015–2017 | Sochaux | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2019 | Sochaux II | 13 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Sochaux | 27 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | VfL Wolfsburg | 111 | (6) |
| 2024– | Crystal Palace | 70 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | France U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | France U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | France U18 | 5 | (0) |
| 2019 | France U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | France | 4 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 8 June 2026 | |||
Lacroix began his career at Sochaux, where he made his senior debut in 2018. He signed for Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg in 2020, spending four seasons in Germany before moving to Crystal Palace in 2024, where he has won the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League.
A former France youth international, Lacroix made his debut for the senior team in 2026.
Club career
editSochaux
editOn 21 August 2017, Lacroix signed his first professional contract with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.[4] Lacroix made his professional debut with Sochaux in a 1–0 Ligue 2 win over FC Lorient on 22 December 2018.[5]
VfL Wolfsburg
editOn 25 August 2020, Lacroix joined VfL Wolfsburg on a four-year deal.[6][7] On 27 February 2021, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 2–0 win over Hertha BSC.[8]
Crystal Palace
editOn 30 August 2024, Premier League club Crystal Palace signed Lacroix for £18m on a five-year deal, reuniting him with former Wolfsburg manager Oliver Glasner.[9] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Manchester City on 7 December.[10] He played for the entirety of the 2025 FA Cup final on 17 May 2025 as the club defeated City 1–0 to win its first ever major trophy.[11][12]
Lacroix scored his first European goal for the club on 6 November 2025, firing home in the 22nd minute as Palace won 3–1 against AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park in the UEFA Conference League.[13] He scored again on 26 February 2026 in the knockout round play-off second leg against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, heading home from an Adam Wharton free-kick in the 36th minute as Palace won 2–0 on the night and 3–1 on aggregate to advance to the round of 16.[14][15] In the Premier League, he headed Palace into an early lead at Old Trafford against Manchester United on 1 March from a Brennan Johnson corner, but was sent off in the 52nd minute; United recovered to win 2–1.[16] On 27 May, Lacroix played the full 90 minutes in the 2026 UEFA Conference League final as Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 1–0, securing the club's first ever European trophy.[17][18]
International career
editLacroix is a youth international for France, and represented the France U17s at the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[19]
On 22 March 2026, Lacroix received his first call-up to the senior France national team, for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.[20]
On 14 May 2026, Lacroix was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[21]
Personal life
editLacroix was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and grew up in Ajat, Dordogne. His father is a doctor and his mother a nurse. He is of Guadeloupean and Malagasy descent through his father and mother.[22] He is a devout Christian.[23][24]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 27 May 2026[25]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sochaux II | 2017–18 | Championnat National 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | Championnat National 3 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||||
| 2019–20 | Championnat National 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||||
| Sochaux | 2018–19 | Ligue 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Ligue 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| Total | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 1 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[d] | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 28 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 4 | ||||
| 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 111 | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | — | 130 | 7 | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 2024–25 | Premier League | 35 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 1 | ||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16[e] | 2 | 1[f] | 0 | 55 | 3 | |
| Total | 70 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 221 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 269 | 11 | ||
- ↑ Includes Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
- ↑ Appearance in FA Community Shield
International
editHonours
editReferences
edit- ↑ "FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017: List of Players: France" (PDF). FIFA. 28 October 2017. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2018.
- ↑ "Maxence Lacroix – Player Profile". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Squad List: France (FRA)" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2026. p. 19. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ FCSM, Fabien. "Premier contrat professionnel pour Maxence Lacroix". FC Sochaux. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ↑ "FC Sochaux-Montbéliard – FC Lorient (1–0) – Saison 2018/2019 – Domino's Ligue 2". www.lfp.fr.
- ↑ valentin (25 August 2020). "Maxence Lacroix transféré au VfL Wolfsburg" (in French). FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ↑ "Bienvenue, Maxence Lacroix" (in German). VfL Wolfsburg. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ↑ "VfL Wolfsburg setzt beim 2:0 gegen Hertha BSC seine Erfolgsserie fort". Bundesliga (in German). February 2021.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace sign Maxence Lacroix". Crystal Palace F.C. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace 2–2 Manchester City". BBC. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Lacroix: Europe next year is gonna be fire!". CPFC. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace beat Man City to win FA Cup at Wembley". BBC Sport. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace 3–1 AZ Alkmaar: Ismaila Sarr scores two as Oliver Glasner's Eagles climb to ninth in Conference League". Sky Sports. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace vs Zrinjski Mostar – Match Centre". Crystal Palace F.C. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Maxence Lacroix goal helps Crystal Palace beat Zrinjski Mostar and reach last 16". Yahoo Sports. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Match report: Man Utd 2 Crystal Palace 1". Manchester United F.C. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano: Jean-Philippe Mateta wins Conference League for the Eagles". UEFA. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano: Eagles create history with Conference League triumph". ESPN. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Portrait de Maxence Lacroix (Réserve & U19)". 25 June 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ↑ "William Saliba forfait avec l'équipe de France, Maxence Lacroix appelé pour la première fois" [William Saliba ruled out of the France squad; Maxence Lacroix called up for the first time] (in French). L'Équipe. 22 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ "France World Cup squad: Camavinga, Kolo Muani miss out". 14 May 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
- ↑ "Maxence Lacroix : " J'ai cassé tous les lampadaires du village avec mon ballon "". SOFOOT.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ↑ "Maxence Lacroix on faith, leadership and FA Cup semi final". News Shopper. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ↑ Bechervaise, Tim. "'The one solid rock is Christ': The Christian faith of the Crystal Palace football team". Premier Christianity. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ↑ Maxence Lacroix at Soccerway
- ↑ "Maxence Lacroix" (in French). French Football Federation. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–0 Manchester City: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ↑ "FA Cup holders Crystal Palace beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield at Wembley". BBC Sport. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ↑ McKenna, Chris (27 May 2026). "Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "2025/26 UEFA Conference League Team of the Season". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
External links
edit
- Profile at the VfL Wolfsburg website
- Maxence Lacroix at the French Football Federation (in French)