The French giant Tristan Crama’s meteoric rise in England
It’s the feel-good story of the season in England. Having arrived quietly across the Channel in 2020, the Frenchman Tristan Crama (24) has become one of the Championship’s best defenders with Millwall. His exceptional performances, both defensively and offensively, are leaving no one indifferent as the summer transfer window approaches.
He has a physique built for the Six Nations, but it is on the football pitch that he strikes fear into the hearts of opposing attackers. Standing 1.92m tall and weighing 90kg, Tristan Crama has established himself as the undisputed leader of Millwall’s defence. Trained in a rugby stronghold (Béziers), where he was spotted after just five National League matches, the Frenchman’s journey has been fraught with obstacles.
Spotted by Brentford, he arrived in England at a very young age without speaking a word of English. But the giant has a strong mentality. Loaned out for two consecutive seasons in League One (to Bristol and then Exeter), he put in an impressive six months in the first half of the 2024–25 season, which opened the doors to the top flight and Millwall. The rest is already history.
A reliable defender with surprising attacking qualities
After making a name for himself in the Championship during the second half of last season, excelling in central defence and successfully filling in at right-back, he played a part in his team’s remarkable comeback, which ultimately saw them finish just outside the Premier League promotion play-off places. But this season, he has taken his game to a whole new level. An ever-present figure, he has started 100% of his team’s 42 matches.
On the pitch, the fans adore him for his passion, determination and total commitment. Tall, athletic and pragmatic in his distribution, he wins over 80% of his aerial duels. But the most remarkable aspect remains his attacking contribution: with 3 goals and 6 assists, he boasts a staggering record for a centre-back. Naturally, he has racked up appearances in the Team of the Week and even secured his place in the Championship Team of the Year.
The aim is to reach a new milestone by the end of the season
Today, the outcome of this season will determine his future. Currently third in the Championship, Millwall can still hope for direct promotion to the Premier League (second-placed Ipswich are just two points ahead with four games remaining) or will have to go through the play-offs. Although he still has two years left on his contract and would prefer a Premier League adventure with his current club should they be promoted, a failure to secure promotion for Millwall will spark a real battle in the transfer market.
According to our sources, several Premier League clubs are already on the lookout. Ligue 1 clubs are also following his progress very closely, as are Italian sides (Serie A), who are not immune to his rugged yet technical style. Valued at €5 million, the market value of the player who has been affectionately compared to Paolo Maldini since his time at Bristol could still skyrocket between now and the end of May. The final sprint is on.
Lionel Messi’s takeover of UE Cornellà has sent shockwaves far beyond Catalonia. Amidst a media frenzy, public enthusiasm and ambitions centred on youth development, the small Spanish club is already taking on a whole new dimension.
Lionel Messi’s arrival at the helm of UE Cornellà has caused a real stir in Spain. In just a few days, the Catalan club, which plays in the lower divisions, has seen its popularity skyrocket on social media. Last Thursday, the Argentine officially bought the Spanish fifth-tier club: “This acquisition reinforces Messi’s close ties with Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia. A connection that dates back to his years at FC Barcelona,” wrote the club, based on the outskirts of Barcelona. A project already undertaken by other footballers, such as Kylian Mbappé with SM Caen, Cristiano Ronaldo with Almería, and Vinicius Jr with the Portuguese club Alverca.
And the impact was immediately felt on social media. His Instagram account grew from around 39,000 to over 550,000 followers, even surpassing historic clubs such as Espanyol Barcelona. This meteoric rise perfectly illustrates the ‘Messi effect’. On the ground in Cornellà, the enthusiasm was just as impressive. During the first match following the takeover announcement, the municipal stadium buzzed with an unprecedented atmosphere. Supporters, the media, locals and content creators flocked to witness this historic moment.
Lionel Messi has boosted the club’s follower count
Messi-branded shirts flew off the shelves, whilst many fans, initially sceptical, quickly gave way to excitement. Even the club’s youth players, taken by surprise by the news, were galvanised by this unexpected arrival: “When I saw him, I first thought it was an AI-generated image, because I found it hard to believe,” said Joel Pinteño, a member of the club. “I believed it because my son, who plays for the club’s youth teams, told me about it, and they’d announced it to him at training,” explained a female supporter interviewed by Marca.
Beyond the initial excitement, Messi’s project is based on a clear vision: to strengthen the academy. According to Marca, the Argentine wants to build on the club’s youth academy, already renowned for having produced several professional players, such as Keita Baldé, David Raya and Jordi Alba. The aim is not a hasty promotion, but sustainable progress, based on the development of young talent and the gradual structuring of the club.
An ambition to turn it into a major training centre
The economic impact is also set to be considerable. With Messi’s global fame, Cornellà suddenly becomes attractive to sponsors, partners and merchandising opportunities. The club could thus take a significant step forward in the medium term, whilst maintaining a measured approach consistent with its identity. “Messi’s takeover of the club came as a surprise, but I was delighted by it. At first, I didn’t believe it, but the club confirmed it later. We should be delighted that the best player in football history is joining Cornellà,” said Ignasi Senabre, Cornellà’s manager.
“I’d be delighted just to keep us in the top flight. If he invests heavily, I’d be thrilled, but he shouldn’t raise the price of season tickets,” added a club official. In the space of a few days, Cornellà has gone from a fifth-tier club to a project followed around the world, even though it could manage no better than a draw against Gramenet in Messi’s debut. It now remains to be seen whether this Messi revolution will also translate into sporting success in the years to come.
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