Jean-Philippe Mateta

ANALYSIS
Mateta will first turn his attention to Wednesday's Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano before linking up with France for the World Cup, closing out a strong campaign with Crystal Palace where he delivered a string of eye-catching performances, using his physical presence, aerial dominance, and sharp finishing to cement himself as a dependable, dangerous number nine at the highest level of English football. The powerful center forward gives manager Didier Deschamps a different attacking look compared to Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, bringing a direct, physical edge that can shift the momentum of games whether coming off the bench or starting depending on the matchup. He enters the World Cup as a squad piece with real knockout-stage value, where his ability to hold up play, win duels in the air, and finish with force could be a major weapon for France down the stretch. Before the Conference League final, Mateta has chipped in with 15 goals and three assists across 49 appearances in all competitions.