Florian Thauvin: A Golden Renaissance
There is only one man that has been the talk of the town at Racing Club de Lens this season: Florian Thauvin. The 32 year-old Frenchman is not only the talk of Ligue 1 McDonald's but more widely in French football following an outstanding start to the season for the Sang & Or, easily becoming the main creative focal point for Pierre Sage's side so far at Stade Bollaert.
His latest performance; a man-of-the-match display in Lens’ gritty 0-0 draw away to Rennes, despite playing 93 minutes with ten men, has reignited debate about a potential return to the national team. A sense of flair, technical precision, and a relentless work-rate was evident as the Breton pressure was pushed back - and more importantly, he should have left Roazhon Park with several assists to his name.
For Thauvin, wearing the Lens shirt also means coming home. Born in Orléans, his footballing journey began in the Centre-Val de Loire region before joining the academy at Grenoble and later Bastia, where his breakout season in Ligue 1 McDonald's (2012/13) announced him as one of France’s most exciting young talents. He joined Lille momentarily in Northern France, before quickly joining Marseille.
With Les Phocéens, he became a talisman over two spells and lifted the FIFA World Cup as a member of Didier Deschamps’ squad in 2018. But returning to northern France at 32, this time in Sang et Or, carries a symbolic weight: the boy who grew up dreaming of Ligue 1 McDonald's stardom is once again a leader in his home country.
THe long road home
After leaving Marseille in 2021, Thauvin endured a challenging spell in Mexico before rebuilding his career in Serie A with Udinese. His return to Ligue 1 this summer, in a deal reportedly worth €6m, was seen as both a sporting and commercial coup for Lens. His early-season performances have justified the investment, while his profile has boosted the club’s visibility off the pitch.
Thauvin, however, seems motivated by something more personal. “A lot of people closed doors on me,” he reflected. “I won’t say I’m vengeful, but I want to show they were wrong. I’ve worked hard, I’ve changed, and today I’m a better player than before.”
“He wants to prove to France that he is still here”
His coach Pierre Sage did not hold back in his praise: “He’s a man for big occasions. When the level rises, when the pressure increases, he responds. He’s ambitious, and he wants to prove to France that he is still here. Match after match, he’s showing it.”
Didier Deschamps will reveal his squad for October’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this week. Thauvin has already received a pre-call from the France staff, according to a report from RMC Sport. That ambition is clear. For Thauvin, the idea of returning to the France squad is no longer just a nostalgic thought. “Of course I think about it,” he admitted post-match.
“When you work hard and perform, you want to dream. It has to be earned, but today I feel stronger than in 2018 – more collective, more complete, with responsibilities that I enjoy.”
The 32-year-old no longer plays like a young winger chasing highlights. He plays like a leader, carrying a team, inspiring teammates, and reminding France why his story is far from finished.
