Bayern star with incredible value! Upamecano is France’s new defensive leader | OneFootball

At FC Bayern, Dayot Upamecano is one of the players who is regularly the focus of public discussion. While his critics primarily highlight individual mistakes, new statistics from France paint a completely different picture. The numbers impressively demonstrate the central defender’s importance to the French national team.

In Munich, Dayot Upamecano has been the subject of controversy for years. Hardly any other Bayern pro polarizes opinion as much as the French international. His exceptional athletic abilities and aggressive defending are praised just as much as his individual mistakes are criticized.

With the French national team, however, this debate seems to play hardly any role. National team coach Didier Deschamps has been one of the Bayern defender’s biggest supporters for years and trusts him almost unconditionally.

Upamecano as the anchor of the defense

Ideally, Deschamps relies on the duo of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba of Arsenal FC in central defense.

While Saliba is often regarded internationally as one of the best center-backs in the world, current statistics now show that Upamecano, in particular, plays a central role in the stability of the French defense.

The French statistics portal Stats Foot has analyzed the Équipe Tricolore’s performances in greater detail and published some remarkable figures.

The numbers speak for themselves: In the past 1,050 minutes of play in which Upamecano was on the field, France conceded only four goals.

An extraordinary statistic for a national team that regularly faces off against the best teams in the world.

The statistic becomes even more remarkable when compared directly.

France is significantly more vulnerable without Upamecano

Photo: Getty Images

In the last 816 minutes without the Bayern Munich pro, France conceded a total of 18 goals. The difference is stark.

Of course, such numbers can never be attributed solely to a single player. Nevertheless, they impressively underscore the influence Upamecano has on the stability of the French defense.

For Didier Deschamps, these statistics confirm his assessment.

The World Cup-winning coach has viewed Upamecano as an indispensable part of his team for years. His speed, strength in one-on-one situations, and ability to build play make him one of the most complete center backs in Europe.

Accordingly, the Bayern Munich pro is also considered an undisputed starter for the 2026 World Cup.

The Équipe Tricolore is once again among the top favorites to win the World Cup title.

In the group stage, France will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. The clear goal is to win the group in order to secure the best possible starting position for the knockout round.

With Michael Olise in the attack and Dayot Upamecano as defensive leader, the French also have FC Bayern players in two key positions.