Hugo Lloris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hugo Lloris

Lloris with France in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Hugo Hadrien Dominique Lloris
Date of birth	(1986-12-26) 26 December 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Nice, France
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Los Angeles FC
Number	1
Youth career
1993–1997	Cedac Cimiez
1997–2005	Nice
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Nice II	20	(0)
2005–2008	Nice	72	(0)
2008–2012	Lyon	146	(0)
2012–2024	Tottenham Hotspur	361	(0)
2024–	Los Angeles FC	53	(0)
International career
2004	France U18	3	(0)
2004–2005	France U19	14	(0)
2006	France U20	4	(0)
2006–2008	France U21	5	(0)
2008–2022	France	145	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  France FIFA World Cup Winner 2018 Russia Runner-up 2022 Qatar UEFA Nations League Winner 2021 Italy UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2016 France UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner 2005 Northern Ireland {{{3}}}
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:47, 26 July 2025 (UTC)

Hugo Hadrien Dominique Lloris (born on December 26, 1986) is a French professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.

Lloris started his career at his hometown club Nice. He made his first team debut as a teenager in October 2005. He was the starting goalkeeper when Nice reached the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue final. After playing well for three seasons, he moved to Lyon. At Lyon, Lloris won several awards and helped the team reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time. He was also named the Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year three times.

In 2012, Lloris joined Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur. He played over 400 games for them across eleven seasons. He became the team captain in 2015 and helped them reach the Champions League final in 2019. In 2024, he moved to Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

Lloris also played for France at different youth levels. He was part of the team that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He made his first senior international appearance in November 2008. He helped France qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He became the first-choice captain for France in 2012. He led France to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup. He was also part of the team that finished second at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. He captained France to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia. With 145 appearances, he is France's most-capped player.

Early Life and Early Career

Hugo Hadrien Dominique Lloris was born on December 26, 1986, in Nice, France. His mother was a lawyer, and his father was a banker. He has a younger brother, Gautier, who also played football for Nice. When he was young, Lloris was very good at tennis. He was one of the top players in his age group in France until he decided to focus on football at age 13.

Lloris started playing football at age six at a local center called CEDAC. He played in different positions, even as a striker. But coaches soon noticed his great skills as a goalkeeper, like how well he could handle and catch the ball. A former Nice goalkeeper, Dominique Baratelli, saw his talent and suggested he join Nice's youth academy. Lloris joined Nice at age ten. He became the starting goalkeeper for the club's under-17 team that won a national league competition in 2003–04.

Club Football Journey

Starting at Nice

Lloris with Nice in 2005

After his success with the under-17 team, Lloris moved up to Nice's reserve team in 2004. He played 12 matches there. For the 2005–06 season, he joined the first team and was given the number 1 shirt. The manager chose him as the starting goalkeeper for the Coupe de la Ligue cup games.

Lloris made his professional debut on October 25, 2005, at age 18. He kept a clean sheet (meaning the other team didn't score) in Nice's 2–0 win. He helped Nice reach their first-ever Coupe de la Ligue final. In the final, Nice lost 2–1 to Nancy.

Lloris made his league debut in March 2006, also keeping a clean sheet. The next season, he became the permanent starting goalkeeper. He played in almost every league match and kept 13 clean sheets. Nice had one of the best defenses in the league that season. In the 2007–08 season, Lloris had a knee injury that made him miss some games. But he returned and helped Nice finish eighth in the league, their best finish in many years. He only let in 24 goals in 30 games, keeping 13 clean sheets. His strong performances caught the attention of bigger clubs in Europe.

Moving to Lyon

After his great time at Nice, many big clubs wanted to sign Lloris. He chose to join Lyon, a team known for its European ambitions. The transfer fee was €8.5 million. He was given the number 1 shirt and became the starting goalkeeper right away.

Lloris played his first game for Lyon on August 10, 2008, in a 3–0 win against Toulouse, keeping a clean sheet. He continued to perform well, helping Lyon have a strong defense. Even though Lyon didn't win the league title that year, Lloris only let in 27 goals and kept 16 clean sheets. He was named the league's top goalkeeper and was also chosen for the Team of the Year.

Success in 2009–10

Lloris signing autographs in 2010

In the 2009–10 season, Lloris continued as Lyon's main goalkeeper. He kept four clean sheets in the first eight matches. He was even named the UNFP Player of the Month in September, which is rare for a goalkeeper. He received praise for his performances in the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool. He made important saves in both games, helping Lyon win one match and draw the other.

On November 8, 2009, Lloris played in a very exciting 5–5 draw between Lyon and Marseille. Both teams scored many goals due to open play. In February, Lloris kept a clean sheet in Lyon's 1–0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League. He made excellent saves to keep Lyon ahead. Lyon later reached the quarter-finals of the competition. In May, he was named the UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row.

Later Years at Lyon

Lloris continued to play well in the 2010–11 season, even though Lyon didn't win the league. He was disappointed after a 2–2 draw against his former club Nice, where Lyon gave up a 2–0 lead in the final minutes. He later said his reaction was due to frustration and wanting the team to perform better.

In the 2011–12 season, Lyon reached the round of 16 in the Champions League but lost on penalties. However, Lyon won the Coupe de France (French Cup) after beating Quevilly 1–0 in the final. Despite Lyon finishing fourth in the league, Lloris was voted the best goalkeeper in the championship for the third time.

Time at Tottenham Hotspur

First Seasons in London

Lloris (left) making a save for Tottenham Hotspur in 2014

On August 31, 2012, Lloris joined Tottenham Hotspur for €10 million. He made his debut for Spurs in a UEFA Europa League match against Lazio on September 20, 2012, which ended 0–0. His first Premier League game was on October 7, 2012, against Aston Villa, where he kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win. This meant he took over from fellow goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who had played 310 Premier League games in a row.

In November 2013, during a match against Everton, Lloris had a collision with an opposing player and briefly lost consciousness. He continued playing, a decision that was discussed by experts. Lloris signed a new five-year contract in July 2014. He said that the new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, convinced him to stay with his clear plans for the club.

In a Europa League match in October 2014, Lloris received a red card. Since Tottenham had already used all their substitutes, forward Harry Kane had to play as goalkeeper for the last few minutes. Tottenham won the match 5–1. Lloris also played in the League Cup final in 2015, but Tottenham lost 2–0 to Chelsea.

Captaincy and Champions League Final

In August 2015, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino made Lloris the permanent captain of the team.

In a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in October 2016, Lloris made several amazing saves, including a one-handed stop on the goal-line. His manager called his performance "brilliant." In November 2016, Lloris saved a penalty and made many world-class saves against Monaco, but Tottenham still lost and were out of the competition.

In December 2016, Lloris signed a contract extension until 2022. In the 2016–17 season, Lloris helped Tottenham have their best defensive record ever in the Premier League, letting in only 26 goals. He kept 15 clean sheets that season. On April 17, 2018, Lloris played his 250th game for Tottenham.

In the Champions League group stage in October 2018, Lloris was sent off with a red card. On March 2, 2019, he saved a late penalty in the North London derby, keeping the score at 1–1. A few days later, he kept his 100th clean sheet for the club in a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, helping Tottenham win 4–0 overall and reach the quarter-finals. He also saved a penalty in the quarter-final against Manchester City, which helped Tottenham stay in the competition.

Milestones and Injuries

Lloris with Tottenham Hotspur in 2020

In the 2019–20 season, Lloris played his 300th game for Tottenham. In October, he suffered an elbow injury that kept him out of the team for a few months. He had surgery in November 2019 and returned to play in January 2020.

On November 29, 2020, he played his 100th European match, becoming the first French goalkeeper to do so. On February 28, 2021, he achieved his 100th Premier League clean sheet.

On August 22, 2021, he played his 300th Premier League match. In January 2022, he extended his contract with Tottenham until 2024. On February 19, 2022, he made his 400th appearance for the club in all competitions. He also set a personal best of 16 clean sheets in the 2021–22 season.

Final Season at Tottenham

On April 23, 2023, Lloris played his last game for Tottenham in a 6–1 loss to Newcastle United. In July 2023, Tottenham announced that Lloris was not part of the pre-season tour, allowing him to look for a new club. On August 12, Son Heung-min became the new club captain. Lloris remained at the club and trained with the team but was not included in match-day squads.

Joining Los Angeles FC

On December 30, 2023, it was announced that Lloris signed a contract with the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC for the 2024 season. He has options to extend his contract for the next two years.

International Career

Youth Teams

Lloris played for various French youth national teams. He made his debut for the under-18 team in March 2004. He later played for the under-19 team and was part of the team that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Lloris played in all five matches of that tournament. He also made five appearances for the under-21 team.

Senior National Team

Early Senior Career

Lloris was first called up to the senior national team in February 2008. He made his first appearance on November 19, 2008, in a 0–0 draw against Uruguay. In September 2009, he received a red card against Serbia, though replays suggested it was a harsh decision.

Lloris was praised for his performances in the play-off matches against the Republic of Ireland, which helped France qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Former goalkeeper Grégory Coupet called his performance "phenomenal."

2010 FIFA World Cup

On May 11, 2010, Lloris was chosen for France's squad for the 2010 World Cup and became the first-choice goalkeeper. He made his World Cup debut on June 11, 2010, in a 0–0 draw against Uruguay, keeping a clean sheet. He played in France's other group matches against Mexico and South Africa. France lost to South Africa and was eliminated from the tournament.

UEFA Euro 2012 and 2014 FIFA World Cup

Lloris with France at UEFA Euro 2012

On November 17, 2010, Lloris captained France for the first time in a 2–1 win over England. On February 28, 2012, he was officially named the first-choice captain by manager Laurent Blanc for UEFA Euro 2012. Lloris started for France in the tournament, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.

Lloris also started for France at the 2014 World Cup. France reached the quarter-finals but were defeated 1–0 by Germany, who went on to win the tournament.

UEFA Euro 2016

Lloris was the starting goalkeeper for France when they reached the final of Euro 2016, which was held in France. However, they lost 1–0 to Portugal in extra time.

2018 FIFA World Cup Victory

On June 2, 2017, Lloris played his 88th game for France, becoming the most-capped goalkeeper for his country, passing Fabien Barthez. After winning against Bulgaria and Belarus, Hugo Lloris and the French team qualified for the 2018 World Cup.

On June 21, 2018, Lloris played his 100th game for France in a 1–0 win over Peru at the 2018 World Cup. In the quarter-finals against Uruguay, Lloris kept a clean sheet and made a crucial save as France won 2–0. On July 15, he lifted the World Cup trophy as the team's captain after France defeated Croatia 4–2 in the final.

Later International Years and Retirement

On May 18, 2021, Lloris was selected for the France squad for UEFA Euro 2020. During France's match against Switzerland in the Round of 16, he saved a penalty. However, France was eliminated from the tournament after a penalty shoot-out.

On October 10, 2021, he played in the 2021 UEFA Nations League Final, which France won 2–1 against Spain. He made two late saves to secure the victory.

In November 2022, he was part of the French squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On December 4, he tied Lilian Thuram's record for most appearances for the national team. Six days later, he broke the record by playing his 143rd game in a 2–1 win against England in the quarter-finals. He also played his 18th World Cup match, becoming France's most-capped player in the competition. On December 18, he made his 20th World Cup appearance in the final, which Argentina won 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after a 3–3 draw. On January 9, 2023, Lloris announced his retirement from international football at age 36, as the most-capped player in the history of the French national team.

Playing Style

Lloris is known as a goalkeeper with "lightning reflexes" and good decision-making. He is very strong in one-on-one situations against attackers. He is also good at controlling his penalty area. His quickness when coming out of his goal to stop opponents has led him to be called a "sweeper-keeper."

He is also described as an "acrobatic shot-stopper" because of his athletic moves in goal. Many consider him one of the best goalkeepers in the world and one of France's greatest ever. His former manager, José Mourinho, even called him "the best in the Premier League" in 2020. He has a strong sense of where to position himself.

While he is generally good with the ball at his feet, he has sometimes made mistakes that led to goals, especially with his passing and decision-making when trying to play the ball out from the back. He has also faced criticism for not always dealing with crosses effectively and for sometimes being inconsistent. Despite these points, he is still seen as an "elite shot-stopper" due to his agility and ability to make many saves consistently.

Personal Life

Lloris met his wife Marine in 2002. They have three children: daughters Anna-Rose (born 2010) and Giuliana (born 2014), and son Léandro (born 2019). They got married in Nice in 2012.

In 2008, while playing for Nice, Lloris's mother passed away. Just two days later, he chose to play in a league match for Nice, showing great dedication to his team.

In 2010, Lloris was featured on the cover of the French version of the video game FIFA 11, alongside teammate Karim Benzema.

In August 2018, Lloris was charged with a driving offense. He later admitted to the charge and was fined and temporarily banned from driving.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Awards and Achievements

Lyon

• Coupe de France: 2011–12
• Trophée des Champions: 2012

Tottenham Hotspur

• Football League Cup/EFL Cup runner-up: 2014–15, 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19

Los Angeles FC

• U.S. Open Cup: 2024
• Leagues Cup runner-up: 2024

France U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2005

France

• FIFA World Cup: 2018; runner-up: 2022
• UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2016

Individual

• Toulon Tournament Best Goalkeeper: 2006
• Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• UNFP Player of the Month: September 2009
• MLS All-Star: 2024

Orders

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 2018

See also

In Spanish: Hugo Lloris para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of Premier League goalkeepers with 100 or more clean sheets