matthieu valbuena

Mathieu Valbuena, born on September 28, 1984, in Bruges, France, began his football career at hometown club ES Blanquefort. He joined professional club FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 2001, playing on the under-18 team for two years. After being released from Bordeaux, he joined amateur club Langon-Castets in the fifth division of French football in 2003. In 2004, Valbuena moved to Libourne Saint-Seurin in the Championnat National, the third tier of French football. His performances led to him being named the league’s Player of the Year in 2006.

In 2006, Valbuena signed his first professional contract with Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in 2007 and scored the winning goal against Liverpool at Anfield in a historic victory for a French club. He was a key player in the Marseille team that won the league and league cup double in the 2009-10 season, along with the Trophée des Champions. He continued to achieve success with Marseille, winning additional Coupes de la Ligue in 2011 and 2012, and Trophée des Champions in 2011. His shirt number 28 was retired by Olympique de Marseille in 2014.

Valbuena later played for Dynamo Moscow (2014-2015), Olympique Lyonnais (2015-2017), Fenerbahçe (2017-2019), Olympiacos (2019-2023), Apollon Limassol (2023-2024), and Athens Kallithea (2024-2025). He returned to Olympiacos B in 2025, where he currently plays. He represented the France national football team from 2010 to 2015, making 52 appearances and scoring 8 goals. He participated in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 2012. Throughout his career, Valbuena has been recognized for his technical ability, pace, and tenacious playing style, earning him nicknames like “le petit vélo” (the little bike) due to his stature and explosive play.