He has a mindset that suits his position perfectly. When he was younger, in the Paris suburb of Bondy where he grew up, just like a certain Kylian Mbappé, he dreamed of being a striker, racking up goals. But “God decided I’d be a centre-back, and I’m very happy with that. Even if I’d had to be a goalkeeper to turn professional, I would have done it. When you’re a kid, you tend to watch the strikers more — the ones who score, who make the decisive passes; they’re the ones who get you most excited. If I’d been able to, I’d have been a striker and scored 30 goals a season. I’m not a star like Mbappé or Dembélé, but in my position I’m one of the best.”
Jacket and trousers by Givenchy. Vintage jersey by Nike from Vieille Rue. Jewellery by Messika.
© Elliot Hensford/GQ France
Admittedly Saliba is less of a star than his two better-known teammates, but he’s no less a mainstay of the French team which is in no way short of such pillars of the sport. There are the experienced leaders, the older or more seasoned players, like N’Golo Kanté. Then there are those who lead through their technical ability and shine on the pitch, like Olise, Dembélé and Cherki. There are the charismatic leaders, like Mbappé and Maignan, whose voices carry weight in the locker room. And there are even “image leaders,” whose relationship with fashion and off-pitch activities are closely scrutinised, such as Koundé and Tchouameni. Where does Saliba fit into this mix? “It’s clear that I’m not someone who’s going to speak up in the locker room like Mike [Maignan] or Kylian [Mbappé],” he admits. “But as a defender, I operate on the principle that you have to talk a lot to your teammates on the pitch, because you see everything. So I try to do that. And then play well and win my duels. That’s how you make your mark on a team.”
In this respect, he has drawn inspiration from Raphaël Varane, a legend of the French national team and the man he succeeded in the Les Bleus line-up. In 2022, Saliba’s first call-up to the French national team coincided with the latter’s last, and there was a sense of the baton being passed between the two players. It must be said that there are many parallels to be drawn between Varane and Saliba, starting with their character and their remarkable composure. “He’s someone who didn’t say much off the pitch either. But on the pitch, he made his presence felt and you knew he was going to give his all and put in some great performances. When you see someone next to you who’s willing to put their neck on the line, who’d give his all on the pitch, you just want to do the same.”
