As France prepares for its World Cup campaign, one rising star stands out as the secret weapon manager Didier Deschamps can turn to when opposing defenses lock down Les Bleus’ star-studded attacking line: 22-year-old playmaker Rayan Cherki. Fresh off a sensational debut season with Manchester City in the Premier League, the dynamic young talent has already cemented his reputation as one of the most creative and unpredictable players in modern soccer.
In his first season in England’s top flight, Cherki dazzled crowds and coaches alike with his unorthodox skill, clinical vision, and pinpoint passing. He wrapped up the campaign ranked second in the league with 12 assists, finishing only behind established Premier League star Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Some of his setups have already gone down as moments of individual brilliance that left even his legendary manager in awe. In one standout match, Cherki dribbled across the 18-yard box with his right foot before delivering a blind left-footed pass — a pass played without looking toward his target — to teammate Marc Guéhi. After the play, City manager Pep Guardiola, who coached eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi during his time at Barcelona, admitted he never even saw that passing lane as an option, stunned by Cherki’s on-field creativity. Another memorable assist came via an audacious rabona pass, a cross kicked with the playing leg wrapped behind the standing leg, that set up Phil Foden for a goal.
While Cherki is best known for his passing prowess, his finishing and close control when in front of goal are equally spectacular. On his City debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he opened his scoring account for the club with a stunning goal initiated by an outrageous backheel flick that showcased his flair. Like Messi, Cherki can dribble directly at opposition defenders at full speed with the ball practically glued to his feet, a skill that has drawn repeated comparisons to the Argentine great. He even notched a memorable volley on his senior debut for the French national team against Spain in last June’s Nations League, proving he can deliver at the highest international level.
Guardiola, who has overseen some of the greatest attacking talents of the last three decades, has been unequivocal in his praise for the young Frenchman. “Rayan has something special,” he said. “He will become an extraordinary player with his mindset and mentality.”
For Deschamps, Cherki’s greatest value ahead of the World Cup lies in his exceptional versatility, which opens up a wide range of tactical options for the French manager. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, right winger (his regular role at City), or advanced playmaker operating just behind the center forward, Cherki has thrived in every position Deschamps has tested him. In March’s 3-1 friendly win over Colombia, he played as a second striker behind Marcus Thuram and contributed directly to two goals. Last November, he occupied the same role behind Kylian Mbappé in a match against Ukraine. When he received his first senior France call-up in May of last year, Cherki called the moment “the beginning of a beautiful adventure” — and that adventure could well lead him to global stardom at the World Cup.
Confidence is another defining trait of the 22-year-old, who has openly embraced his own unique skill set. When asked in a March interview with *France Football* to name Manchester City’s most technically gifted player, Cherki answered without hesitation: “Me.” He also describes himself as “one of the most unpredictable players on the planet” — exactly the kind of player a side needs to unlock a deep, organized defense that has shut down more predictable attacking threats. Like Messi, it is hard to identify Cherki’s stronger foot, with most of his most magical moments coming from his left, echoing the Argentine legend.
Cherki is the latest standout talent to emerge from Olympique Lyonnais’ renowned youth academy, the same production line that produced 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and gifted playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa. He made his Ligue 1 debut at just 16 years old in October 2019, and announced his talent to the world just weeks later in a French Cup match, where he scored two clinical goals, set up another with a spectacular midfield pass, drew a penalty (that his teammate missed), created a second assist, and nearly scored with an audacious lob that hit the crossbar. The mesmerizing performance for a player his age immediately put him on the scouting radar of Europe’s top clubs.
In his final season with Lyon, Cherki led the entire league with 11 assists, and Manchester City secured his transfer last summer for just 36 million euros ($41 million) — a price that now looks like a major bargain, secured in large part due to Lyon’s severe financial struggles. Guardiola had his eye on Cherki for years before the transfer: the young Frenchman scored against City in a youth Champions League match just after turning 15, making him the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
Like Messi and the late Diego Maradona, who honed his craft on the streets of Buenos Aires, Cherki developed his exceptional balance and close control playing street soccer on the roads of Lyon in east-central France. After one season with local suburban club Saint-Priest, he joined Lyon’s academy at just seven years old, beginning the journey that has brought him to the cusp of World Cup selection.
While Cherki is not expected to earn a starting spot in France’s opening World Cup lineups, that is a reflection of the incredible depth of talent Les Bleus possess in attack. Deschamps is expected to field a front line of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and prolific superstar Kylian Mbappé — the only player in history to score in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, netting a hat trick in the 2022 final against Argentina.
Deschamps will step down from his role as France manager after this World Cup, and former French captain Zinedine Zidane — the iconic midfield star who led France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and also scored in two World Cup finals — is widely tipped to take over. Zidane, himself one of the most gifted midfielders in the history of the sport, is expected to build the future of French soccer around Cherki in the coming years. For now, Cherki heads into the tournament as the wildcard that could carry France all the way to glory.