Illan Meslier reveals his footballing dream and most beautiful Leeds United moment

Meslier is currently away with the France under-21s squad for this summer’s under-21s Euros, to which the keeper arrived following an awful end to the Premier League season with Leeds. Meslier had been first choice Whites keeper since being handed his big chance back in February 2020 but new boss Sam Allardyce dropped the 23-year-old for the last four games of the 2022-23 campaign following a string of errors in goal.

The experienced Joel Robles instead took his place between the sticks but Leeds were ultimately relegated to the Premier League just three years after winning promotion as Championship champions under Marcelo Bielsa.

Meslier, though, says that sealing promotion and also last October’s 2-1 victory at Liverpool are the most beautiful emotions of his career, the shock Anfield triumph arriving after a series of brilliant stops from the French keeper.

“The rise in the Premier League was an extraordinary moment,” said Meslier in a feature with the France Football Federation, asked for the most beautiful emotion of his career so far.

"There is also this year's match at Anfield Road against Liverpool where we won in the last minutes and where I achieved a very good performance. When we come out of this type of encounter, we think back to our journey and everything we have experienced, which has brought us to this precise moment. Winning in this mythical stadium and facing such players is exhilarating.”

Pressed on what was his biggest footballing dream, Meslier declared before laughing: “Win the Champions League and the World Cup. Why not the same year, see you in 2026!”