Internationals: 5 standout performances from the international break
As we get ready to resume the Ligue 1 McDonald's season following the international break, we look back at some of the standout displays from the break, taking in South America, Europe, Africa and more
Willian Pacho -- Ecuador/Paris Saint-Germain
Having missed out on the World Cup in two of the last four cycles, Ecuador were in no mood to do so ahead of next year's tournament in North America. Despite already having qualified before this final round of fixtures, La Tri took no prisoners with a pair of very impressive results, first earning a scoreless draw against Paraguay and then stunning Argentina 1-0 despite finishing with ten men. Playing 90 minutes in each match was PSG's Willian Pacho, the young center back displaying his characteristic preternatural calm to help his side finish second in CONMEBOL qualifying.
Breel Embolo -- Switzerland/Stade Rennais
Embolo's eleventh-hour move to Stade Rennais from AS Monaco was something of a surprise, but the veteran striker looks ready to lift the Bretons up the table if his play for La Nati is anything by which to go. On Friday, he netted a first-half brace in a 4-0 win against Kosovo and followed that up with another strike, this time in a 3-0 win over Slovakia. Now three points clear in Group B, Switzerland are off to the perfect start to qualifying and Embolo has moved to within a goal of his country's top ten all-time scorers.
Après la victoire face au Kosovo, la Suisse a enchaîné en dominant la Slovénie. Succès 3-0 et nouveau but pour Breel Embolo 🎯 pic.twitter.com/EZdRN8FcLp
— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) September 9, 2025
Hamza Igamane -- Morocco/LOSC Lille
What a debut! Well, almost. Lille's new signing got his career for the Atlas Lions started back in March with eight minutes off the bench, but in this international window, he took the bull by the horns in his second and third appearances, scoring in two massive Morocco wins.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia -- Georgia/Paris Saint-Germain
Despite a frustrating 3-2 loss to ten-man Turkiye in their opening match, Georgia turned things around in style, winning 3-0 against Bulgaria on Sunday, and the flashy PSG winner was on target in both matches. Now just six goals behind the all-time record at just 24, Kvaratskhelia will have to be at his best as his country look to come second in a tricky group that also contains Spain.
Louis Leroux - France U-21/FC Nantes
Still just 19, and shy of 20 caps in Ligue 1 with FC Nantes, Leroux announced himself in a big way for Les Espoirs, scoring and turning in a man of the match performance in a 3-0 friendly win over Serbia. While featuring regularly for the U-21s will be the next step, his debut was impressive indeed.
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