The record-breaking stopper in Leeds United 'keeper Illan Meslier's way for France under-21s

Despite his rapid progress for the Whites, the United stopper has record-breaking goalkeeper Alban Lafont still in his way - a player who has been dubbed as France's future no 1 and a reported long-term target of Real Madrid's.

Having been capped by France at under-18s, 19s and 20s level, Meslier is now part of the French under-21s squad and his arrival at the new level was saluted by boss Sylvain Ripoll ahead of his side's two Euro under-21s qualifiers in the October international break.

Meslier, 20, is one of three goalkeepers in the current squad alongside Fiorentina's Lafont who is on loan at FC Nantes and Montpellier's Dimitry Bertaud with record-breaker Lafont the main obstacle in Meslier's way.

Six-foot-four Lafont again got the nod to start in Thursday's Euro under-21s qualifier at home to Liechtenstein and played the full match as both Meslier and Bertaud stayed on the bench.

Lafont, 21, has now made five appearances for France's under-21s having also been capped at under-16s, 17s, 18s, 19s and 20s level with the custodian representing his country at the FIFA under-20s 2017 World Cup.

The Burkina Faso-born shotstopper began his career at Toulouse and has now made 179 first team appearances for either Toulouse, Fiorentina or Nantes.

His league debut for Toulouse came as a 16-year-old in the 2-0 win at home to Nice in November 2015 making him the youngest ever 'keeper to play in the French top flight.

The teenager was named as the 34th best under-20s player in the world by La Gazzetta dello Sport the following January and later named CIES Football Observatory' second-most promising footballer in the world under the age of 20 behind AC Milan's now Italian no 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma with French superstar striker Kylian Mbappé ranked third.

After amassing 106 appearances for Toulouse including 98 in the league, the 'keeper signed for Fiorentina for around 7 million euros in July 2018.

Thirty four games in Serie A followed plus four Coppa Italia appearances but Lafont then fell behind Bartlomiej Dragowski and returned to France the following summer to join Nantes on a two-season loan with Nantes who have the option to buy for around £7-8m.

Another 35 outings in the league have followed with 33 of them in the league and despite the rapid emergence of Meslier, Lafont remains France Under-21s first choice with Corriere dello Sport claiming that Real Madrid see him as a potential future signing.

Bertaud, meanwhile, who is 22, has played once for France's under-21s having also been capped at under-16s, 19s and 20s level.

He is a youth product of Montpellier and has made 12 appearances for their first team but only four in the league.

Meslier initially arrived at Leeds on loan from FC Lorient in the summer of 2019 having made just 30 outings for Lorient, 28 in Ligue Two and two in the Coupe de la Ligue.

The Frenchman then made his United debut in January when impressing in United's 1-0 loss at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.

Kiko Casilla's eight-game ban then provided Meslier with a chance in the league and the Frenchman responded in style by keeping seven clean sheets from his ten outings as Leeds romped to promotion to the Premier League as Championship champions.

Meslier's loan switch to Leeds was then turned into a permanent transfer for a fee of around £5m in July and even with Casilla back available, the 20-year-old Frenchman has now established himself as United's first choice 'keeper in the country's top flight.

Hailing Meslier's ascension to France's under-21s, boss boss Ripoll told French sports daily L’Equipe: “We are delighted to see Illan at this level.

“He finished last season well and has started the new one very well.

“For this position as for the others, there is competition.

“We will see how things evolve.

“I can only be delighted to have number one goalkeepers, which has not always been the case for the Under-21s.”

France's under-21s are back in action on Monday night with another qualifier at home to Slovakia and it remains to be seen if Meslier is handed his chance with a fascinating battle brewing between two clearly outstanding young 'keepers.

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Thank you Laura Collins