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William Saliba: The Player Of Lebanese Origin Who Could Win The World Cup
As you know by now, Lebanon sadly did not qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, but that doesn’t mean we are completely out of the scene. Players of Lebanese origins will represent, and are sure to make us proud. The most prominent of these players is Arsenal F.C. and France defender, William Alain André Gabriel Saliba.
Born in Paris on March 21, 2001 to a Cameroonian mother and Lebanese father, William Saliba has already represented France seven times. Not much has been discovered about Saliba’s Lebanese origins beyond his paternal heritage. Officially, he holds Cameroonian and French passports.
At the age of six, Saliba was coached by fellow France superstar Kylian Mbappe’s father, before eventually joining Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne in 2016. He made his debut for the French club in 2018, and was transferred for around £30 million to Arsenal the next year, a club he had a life long admiration for.
After a few loan spells, Saliba finally made his breakthrough for the London-based club in 2022, where he has helped anchor the team to the top of the Premier League table. His performances so far have been hailed by both the international media and Gunners fans alike.
Saliba’s excellent form over the past year earned him a place in Didier Deschamps’ France World Cup squad, and he could even be a starter for the reigning champions at this year’s tournament. If France manage to repeat their 2018 glories, Lebanon could have its own sliver of world cup success through Saliba.
Could Saliba have been leading the Lebanese national team to glory at this year’s World Cup? We wish we were in that alternative universe.
Born in Paris on March 21, 2001 to a Cameroonian mother and Lebanese father, William Saliba has already represented France seven times. Not much has been discovered about Saliba’s Lebanese origins beyond his paternal heritage. Officially, he holds Cameroonian and French passports.
WILLIAM SALIBA IS OFF OF TO QATAR!
— Back Again W/Troopz Podcast (@backagain) November 9, 2022
MORE THAN DESERVED! pic.twitter.com/q88no43nPe
At the age of six, Saliba was coached by fellow France superstar Kylian Mbappe’s father, before eventually joining Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne in 2016. He made his debut for the French club in 2018, and was transferred for around £30 million to Arsenal the next year, a club he had a life long admiration for.
After a few loan spells, Saliba finally made his breakthrough for the London-based club in 2022, where he has helped anchor the team to the top of the Premier League table. His performances so far have been hailed by both the international media and Gunners fans alike.
William Saliba vs Chelsea (A)
— ™ (@ArsenaIComps) November 6, 2022
pic.twitter.com/fEXzHKOb4P
Saliba’s excellent form over the past year earned him a place in Didier Deschamps’ France World Cup squad, and he could even be a starter for the reigning champions at this year’s tournament. If France manage to repeat their 2018 glories, Lebanon could have its own sliver of world cup success through Saliba.
Could Saliba have been leading the Lebanese national team to glory at this year’s World Cup? We wish we were in that alternative universe.
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