A typical number
Throughout his professional career, at Lyon as at PSG, Bradley Barcola has always worn the number 29. No allusion to a birthday or other strong symbol. If the left winger chose this number, it is a reference to the video game FIFA (now EA FC). For several years, it was possible to embody in a game mode the fictional character Alex Hunter, a young crack in English football, and he wore this number. “When I become pro, it will be number 29. Now I am here and I will never let go,” he declared in an interview. Unfortunately, international selection lists only go up to 26 players, he will have to settle for No. 12 with the Blues.
His brother is international
Bradley Barcola has a brother, Malcolm, who is also a professional footballer. After signing his first professional contract for OL in 2019, the goalkeeper signed up for Bosnia-Herzegovina, at Tuzla City, in 2022. A year followed as a free agent, then at Paços de Ferreira, before joining Ittihad Tangier, where he is currently evolving. The two brothers having Togolese origins, the eldest of the siblings chose to represent the African country in the selection. It has since been regularly present in the lists of hawks during international breaks.
PSG’s gesture to save OL
In 2023, Bradley Barcola leaves OL and joins PSG for an amount of 45 million euros, with payment spread over several seasons. But when in 2025 Lyon is demoted to Ligue 2 by the DNCG and must find funds to save itself, it is the Parisian club which decides to make a move. The latter decides to pay the entire transfer of Bradley Barcola in one go, in order to allow the six-time French champion to improve his case on appeal. No amount was leaked and it’s difficult to say on what scale it helped his former club.
Euro 2024 surprise invite
It was THE surprise on Didier Deschamps’ list. While he had never been called up to the A, Bradley Barcola was selected for Euro 2024 by the coach. He honored his first cap during a preparation match against Luxembourg, where despite his 10 minutes of playing time, he offered a decisive pass to Kylian Mbappé for a big victory (3-0). During the main competition, he appeared three times, starting against Poland (left in the 65the minute) then two starts against Portugal and against Spain.
The historic record of the Blues
After his surprise selection for Euro 2024, Bradley Barcola is increasingly gaining the trust of Didier Deschamps. And this is how he found himself starting in a match against Italy the following September 6. The least we can say is that the Parisian did not wait long to play with the defense of the Nationalby scoring a goal in 12 seconds of play. It is the earliest goal ever recorded in the history of the French team. That day, he erased Bernard Lacombe, who had scored after 36 seconds of play against Italy in 1978.
/2026/06/08/6a27147063e61439304893.jpg "REPORTAGE. \"Out of stock, at least until mid-June\" : stores facing shortage of Panini stickers for the World Cup")
