Thomas Meunier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thomas Meunier

Meunier with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Thomas André A. Meunier
Date of birth	(1991-09-12) 12 September 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Sainte-Ode, Belgium
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Lille
Number	12
Youth career
1996–2002	RUS Saint-Ode
2002–2004	RUS Givry
2004–2006	Standard Liège
2006–2009	Virton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	Virton	49	(15)
2011–2016	Club Brugge	149	(15)
2016–2020	Paris Saint-Germain	84	(8)
2020–2024	Borussia Dortmund	56	(3)
2023	Borussia Dortmund II	3	(0)
2024	Trabzonspor	14	(1)
2024–	Lille	30	(2)
International career‡
2006	Belgium U15	1	(0)
2011–2012	Belgium U21	7	(1)
2013–	Belgium	71	(8)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Belgium FIFA World Cup Third 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Thomas André A. Meunier (born September 12, 1991) is a professional footballer from Belgium. He plays as a right-back for the French club Lille and is also a key player for the Belgian national team.

Thomas Meunier's Football Journey

Starting Out at Virton

Thomas Meunier was born in Sainte-Ode, Belgium. He started playing football in youth teams like RUS Saint-Ode and RUS Givry. He then joined Standard Liège for two years. After some injuries, he was released from Standard Liège. Thomas thought about quitting football, but his mom encouraged him to keep going.

He got a chance to try out for Virton and impressed them, so he joined the club. Thomas started playing professionally for Virton's main team in 2009. His first game was a 1–1 draw against K.F.C. V.W. Hamme on January 31, 2009. He played five games that season.

In the 2009–10 season, Thomas became a regular player, appearing in 16 games and scoring 5 goals. The 2010–11 season was his big breakthrough. He scored his first goal of that season on August 22, 2010, in a 3–0 win. He scored two goals in a game twice in October 2010. Thomas played 29 games and scored 11 goals that season. Overall, from 2009 to 2011, he played 52 games and scored 15 goals for Virton.

Joining Club Brugge

Meunier playing for Club Brugge in 2011

In January 2011, Club Brugge signed Thomas Meunier for 200,000 euros. The actual move happened in the summer of 2011. Club Brugge wanted to make sure they got him because they had missed out on other players. They completed the deal before other Belgian clubs could sign him.

For the new season, Thomas was given the number 19 shirt. On July 31, 2011, he played his first game for Club Brugge. He came on for the last 20 minutes and even scored a goal. He scored again on September 21, 2011, in a 3–2 win. Thomas scored three goals in five games between October and November 2011. He quickly became an important player in midfield. Because of his good play, he signed a new contract to stay until 2016. Even with some injuries, Thomas played 49 games and scored 5 goals in his first season. His goal against Genk was voted third best goal of the season.

Meunier in 2012

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Thomas scored in the first four league games. He started playing as a right-winger. He had some injuries that kept him out until November. When he came back, he started playing as a right-back, which he said was fine. He had another injury in January but returned in March. He kept playing as a right-back for the rest of the season. He played 28 games and scored 4 goals that season.

For the 2013–14 season, Thomas was out until September after a groin surgery. When he returned, he quickly got his right-back spot back. He helped his team keep clean sheets four times in a row. Other clubs, like Wolfsburg, were interested in him, but he stayed. He scored his first goal of the season on February 18, 2014. He then scored twice on March 16, 2014. In a game against Anderlecht, he accidentally scored an own goal, which cost his team the title. Despite more injuries, Thomas played 33 games and scored three goals. He also won a "Blue Shoe" award.

In the 2014–15 season, Thomas started well by helping set up a goal. He played in every game as a right-back until he got injured in December. He scored his first goal of the season on November 22, 2014. After his injury, he scored again on December 14, 2014. In January 2015, he signed a new contract until 2019. Soon after, he helped with three goals in one game, helping his team reach the cup semi-final. He had two more injuries near the end of the season. However, he played the whole 2015 Belgian Cup Final against RSC Anderlecht. Club Brugge won 2–1, winning their first Belgian Cup since 2007. Thomas played 46 games and scored two goals that season. He was also named Footballer of the Year.

Before the 2015–16 season, there were rumors that Thomas might leave Club Brugge. But he got a knee injury while playing for his country and was out for two months. He returned on August 30, 2015. He scored his first goal of the season on September 23, 2015. He also scored in two UEFA Europa League matches in October and November. Thomas was captain for Club Brugge for the first time on November 30, 2015. He helped his team win the league title. He played 42 games and scored six goals that season.

In the summer of 2016, many clubs wanted to sign Thomas, with Paris Saint-Germain being the most interested. He initially said he would stay at Club Brugge, but the interest continued.

When Thomas joined Club Brugge in 2011, he first played as a striker or right winger. But his coaches changed him into a right back. This happened because other players in that position were injured or had left the club.

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain

On July 3, 2016, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced that Thomas Meunier had joined them. He signed a four-year contract until June 30, 2020. The transfer fee was about 7 million euros. Before joining, Thomas was unsure about moving to PSG because he worried he might not play much.

In a friendly match against Real Madrid in 2016, Thomas scored two goals, helping PSG win 3–1.

2016–17 Season

Thomas played his first official game for PSG on August 6, 2016. He came on as a substitute in the 2016 Trophée des Champions. He made his league debut on August 28, 2016. Thomas often had to compete with another player, Serge Aurier, for the right-back position.

After a knee injury in September, Thomas returned and scored a goal in a 2–0 win on October 1, 2016. On November 1, 2016, he helped set up a goal and then scored the winning goal himself in a Champions League match against Basel. This was his first official goal for PSG. Because of his great performance, he was named to the UEFA Team of the Week.

On December 21, 2016, Thomas scored his first league goal for PSG. He had more injuries in the next two months. However, he played more in January 2017 because Aurier was away playing for his national team. In February, he played a full game and helped set up a goal in a big 4–0 win against Barcelona in the Champions League. But in the second game against Barcelona, PSG lost 6–1 and was knocked out of the competition. Thomas said it was "unacceptable."

Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, Thomas continued to fight for his spot. He had more injuries. He played in the French League Cup and French Cup campaigns but missed both finals due to injury or being on the bench. That season, he played 36 games and scored two goals.

2017–18 Season

In the summer of 2017, Premier League club Chelsea tried to sign Thomas, but PSG refused their offer. At the start of the 2017–18 season, Thomas played his first game in the 2017 Trophée des Champions, which PSG won 2–1. Even after Aurier left, Thomas still had to compete for the right-back spot because Dani Alves joined the team.

Thomas made his first league appearance of the season on August 25, 2017, coming on as a substitute and setting up a goal. He scored his first goal of the season on September 30, 2017, in a 6–2 win. On October 14, 2017, Thomas scored both of PSG's goals in a 2–1 win against Dijon. He played twice in the league between late October and mid-December, even with an injury from playing for his country.

On December 13, 2017, Thomas helped set up two goals in a 4–2 win. A month later, he scored again in the League Cup semi-finals. He scored his fourth goal of the season on March 10, 2018. Towards the end of the season, he played more as a right-back when Alves was injured or suspended. On May 8, 2018, he came off the bench as PSG won the French Cup. Thomas also won his first league title with PSG on April 15, 2018. He played 34 games and scored 5 goals that season.

2018–19 Season

On September 18, 2018, Thomas scored a goal in a Champions League group stage match against Liverpool. On March 6, 2019, he came on as a substitute in a game against Manchester United. PSG lost and was knocked out of the Champions League.

2019–20 Season

In the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League group stage, Thomas scored a goal in a 3–0 win over Real Madrid on September 18, 2019. On March 4, 2020, he played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5–1 win in the French Cup semi-final.

Moving to Borussia Dortmund

On June 25, 2020, it was announced that Thomas Meunier would join Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He moved as a free agent and signed a four-year deal.

Trabzonspor and Lille

On February 7, 2024, Thomas moved to Trabzonspor in Turkey. Then, on July 19, 2024, the French club Lille announced that they had signed Thomas Meunier on a two-year contract.

Playing for His Country: Belgium

Youth Teams

Thomas played for the Belgium U15 team. He was first called up to the Belgium U21 team in February 2011.

He made his Belgium U21 debut on August 9, 2011, in a friendly game. On September 6, 2011, he scored his first U21 goal in a 4–1 win. He played seven games for the Belgium U21 team and scored once.

Senior National Team

Meunier playing for Belgium at the FIFA World Cup in Russia

Thomas was called up to the senior Belgian national team for the first time on November 14, 2013. He made his debut in a friendly match against Colombia. He played in two more friendly games but was not chosen for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.

After missing the World Cup, Thomas was called up again in November 2014. He played in a 3–1 win against Iceland.

He was selected for the Euro 2016 squad. Thomas played the full 90 minutes at right-back in a group stage game and helped set up a goal in a 3–0 win. He also helped his team keep a clean sheet in another win four days later. He played in Belgium's 4–0 win in the round of 16. Thomas played five games for Belgium in Euro 2016.

On November 13, 2016, Thomas scored his first goal for the senior national team in an 8–1 win against Estonia. On August 31, 2017, he scored three goals in one game against Gibraltar, and also helped with four assists! On October 7, 2017, he scored the first goal in a 4–3 win. He finished the 2018 World Cup qualifying games with five goals and seven assists.

Thomas was chosen for Belgium's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was the first-choice right midfielder and played his first World Cup game in a 3–0 win against Panama. In the next game, he helped set up a goal in a 5–2 win against Tunisia. He also helped set up a goal in a 3–2 win against Japan in the round of 16. After a 2–1 win against Brazil, he received a yellow card, which meant he missed the semi-finals. On July 14, 2018, Thomas returned and scored the first goal for Belgium in a 2–0 win against England. This helped Belgium finish third, their best-ever World Cup result.

On June 12, 2021, Thomas came on as a substitute early in a Euro 2020 group stage match against Russia. He scored Belgium's second goal in the 34th minute. He was the first player ever to score a first-half goal in the UEFA European Championship after coming on as a substitute.

About Thomas's Life

When Thomas was growing up, he looked up to the Brazilian football star Ronaldo. He liked Ronaldo's style of play and dribbling skills. Thomas has shared that his childhood was not always easy. He worked part-time at a car factory and as a postman while playing for Virton. He also earned a diploma from school.

Outside of football, Thomas enjoys art. He has even opened a catering business in his hometown of Bastogne. He has thought about becoming a baker after he finishes his football career.

Thomas can speak several languages fluently, including French, Flemish, English, and German.

Thomas is in a relationship with Deborah Panzokou, whom he has known since high school. They had their first child, a boy named Landrys, in December 2015. Their second child was born in April 2018.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Meunier goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	14 November 2016	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	15	Estonia	1–0	8–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	31 August 2017	Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium	16	Gibraltar	2–0	9–0
3					7–0
4					8–0
5	7 October 2017	Stadion Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	18	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	4–3
6	14 July 2018	Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia	30	England	1–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup
7	13 October 2019	Astana Arena, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan	39	Kazakhstan	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
8	12 June 2021	Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia	48	Russia	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2020

Awards and Achievements

Club Brugge

• Belgian Pro League: 2015–16
• Belgian Cup: 2014–15

Paris Saint Germain

• Ligue 1: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
• Coupe de France: 2017–18, 2019–20
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20
• Trophée des Champions: 2016, 2017, 2019

Borussia Dortmund

• DFB-Pokal: 2020–21

Belgium

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2018

Individual

• Godefroid of Honour: 2016
• Marca/Forbes World Cup All-Star team: 2018

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Meunier para niños