Rayan Cherki has earned his first call-up to the France national team by head coach Didier Deschamps ahead of the crunch UEFA Nations League semi-final against Spain next month, Afrosport reports.
The 21-year-old of Algerian heritage has been a standout performer in Ligue 1 this season with Olympique Lyon, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in 30 appearances, while he has 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions, including 12 goal involvements (four goals, eight assists) in the UEFA Europa League.
Rayan Cherki is called up for the first time with the @equipedefrance A
Congratulations @rayan_cherki
pic.twitter.com/RM7iAKZyiO
— Olympique Lyonnais
(@OL_English) May 21, 2025
Dechamps has called up a very strong squad that includes Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Warren Zaire-Emery, Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, who are all involved in the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on May 31.
He will however be without centre-back William Saliba, who is nursing a hamstring injury and full-back Jules Kounde, who is out with a thigh injury.
France will take on Spain in Stuttgart on June 5 and will face either Portugal or Germany should they reach the final three days later.
It will be a repeat of the 2021 Nations League final when Les Bleus defeated La Roja 2-1 in Milan.
FULL FRANCE NATIONS LEAGUE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Clement Lenglet (Atletico Madrid), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus)
Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Manu Kone (Roma), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
