Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram (born Ruddy, Lilian Thuram-Ulien, January 1 1972 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe) is a French football player. With the French national team, Thuram won {{Wc|1998}} and {{Ec2|2000}}. He is currently considered one of the best defenders in the world.

Related Topics:
January 1 - 1972 - Pointe-à-Pitre - Guadeloupe - French - Football - French national team - Defenders

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thuram's soccer career began with Monaco of the French Ligue 1 in 1991. Later stops included Parma (1996-2001) and Juventus - his current club - in Italian Serie A. Thuram has won the scudetto three times with Juventus.

Related Topics:
Monaco - Ligue 1 - Parma - Juventus - Serie A

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For France, Thuram has been capped 104 times (as of September 2005) and scored two goals. Amazingly, both of those goals came in one game—the 1998 World Cup semifinal against Croatia, as France won 2-1 to advance to the final. He also played in the {{Wc|2002}}, {{Ec|96}}, and {{Ec2|2004}}. After a brief international retirement, he returned to the French team on August 17, 2005.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thuram was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Related Topics:
Pelé - Top 125 greatest living footballers - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~