Paris FC’s Maxime Lopez open to Algeria switch | OneFootball

Maxime Lopez (27) has shone since returning to Ligue 1. The former Olympique de Marseille midfielder returned to France, joining Paris FC in the summer of 2024, with the club in Ligue 2.

Having led Les Parisiens back into the top-flight, the captain has continued to excel, pulling the strings in the midfield. This season, he currently has three assists to his name and has been a key figure in a Paris FC side that sit in 11th in Ligue 1.

Lopez has never played for the France national team, despite being prominent at youth level, all the way up to the U21s. However, speaking in an interview with Canal Plus, he has said that he is open to a switch of international allegiance. Through his mother, Lopez is able to represent the Algerian national team. He is not closed off to that possibility. 

Lopez reveals contact with Algeria

“If ever the Algerian national team call me up, I’ll go,” began the Paris FC midfielder. “People will say that I’m opportunistic, there is the AFCON, the World Cup, but I think in a season where there is no AFCON, there is no World Cup, if I was called up, I’d go. I’m a competitor and I want to play at national level, too.”

Lopez added, “[People may say] that it’s been years that he has been talking about the France national team and all of that, but honestly, I’ve always talked about the France national team because the Algerian national team has never contacted me. Recently, I was contacted by them to see where I was. If ever I’m called up, I’ll go, but we’ll see what happens in the future.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle