Robin Risser’s World Cup belief realised after breakthrough at Lens | OneFootball

Robin Risser will be France’s third-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup after a breakout season at RC Lens, crowned by the UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Few foresaw this early in the season, when he left Strasbourg, nearly joined Nice, then moved north to Lens. According to L'Équipe, a friend told him in September 2025 he would make Didier Deschamps’s list, a prediction realised in May 2026.

Deschamps has underlined that current form is decisive and indicated that brief dips and a flatter finish counted against a March tour call to face Brazil and Colombia in the United States.

From January, signs of a possible call appeared. Goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot came to watch him and Lens were asked about his character, with feedback of maturity, calm and balance, while former Red Star FC coach Faouzi Amzal praised his emotional control.

In March, Deschamps kept faith with Lucas Chevalier. Risser later capitalised when a Parisian contender’s injury curtailed his Ligue 1 minutes, opening the door. Deschamps noted that the player had not featured and that minutes would likely have helped.

Hugo Lloris was contacted about a possible return, but staff did not really consider it, judging a number three role difficult for a record-holder to accept and wary of a debate if Mike Maignan were injured. Risser has previously trained with the seniors several times since November 2024 while with the under-21s.

Source: L'Équipe