The call came late, but Jean Butez has reached Clairefontaine at last. The Como goalkeeper, aged 31 years and three months, has received his first France call-up after Robin Risser withdrew with a rib problem, handing Zinédine Zidane an experienced replacement in the squad.
Butez becomes the oldest player to earn a first senior France selection in 50 years. The previous benchmark dates back to 1976, when Saint-Étienne’s Gérard Farison was called up for the first time at 32 years and one month old.
A long route from Lille to the national squad
His path has been far from conventional. Developed at Lille, Butez never made a professional appearance for the club before leaving France for Mouscron in 2017. The move to Belgium gave his career its momentum, and Royal Antwerp signed him in 2020.
At Antwerp, he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper and played 170 matches. That consistency eventually led him to Como, where he has worked under Cesc Fàbregas since joining in 2025.
Butez has recorded 26 clean sheets in 68 appearances for the Italian club, although he is still waiting for his first shutout of the current campaign. His first inclusion with Les Bleus now offers a striking reward for a goalkeeper whose route back into the French spotlight took him through Belgium and Serie A.
