{{short description|French footballer (born 2000)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Maxence Lacroix |image = Lens - Sochaux (23-11-2019) 73.jpg |caption = Lacroix warming up for [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]] in 2019 |full_name = Maxence Guy Lacroix<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FU17/2017/pdf/FU17_2017_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017: List of Players: France |publisher=FIFA |page=6 |date=28 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701083502/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FU17/2017/pdf/FU17_2017_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2018}}</ref> |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|4|6|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/maxence-lacroix|title=Maxence Lacroix – Player Profile|publisher=Bundesliga|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708180034/https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/maxence-lacroix|url-status=dead}}</ref> |birth_place = [[Villeneuve-Saint-Georges]], France |height = 1.90 m<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/teams/first-team/players-and-staff/spieler-profil/Maxence-Lacroix|title=Maxence Lacroix|publisher= English Eagles|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> |position = [[Centre-back]] |currentclub = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] |clubnumber = 5 |youthyears1 = 2006–2008 |youthclubs1 = Limeyrat |youthyears2 = 2008–2011 |youthclubs2 = Montignacoise |youthyears3 = 2011–2012 |youthclubs3 = FCTLF |youthyears4 = 2012–2015 |youthclubs4 = [[Trélissac FC|Trélissac]] |youthyears5 = 2015–2017 |youthclubs5 = [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]] |years1 = 2017–2019 |clubs1 = [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux II]] |caps1 = 13 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2018–2020 |clubs2 = [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]] |caps2 = 27 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2020–2024 |clubs3 = [[VfL Wolfsburg]] |caps3 = 111 |goals3 = 6 |years4 = 2024– |clubs4 = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] |caps4 = 70 |goals4 = 2 |nationalyears1 = 2016 |nationalteam1 = [[France national under-16 football team|France U16]] |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |nationalyears2 = 2017 |nationalteam2 = [[France national under-17 football team|France U17]] |nationalcaps2 = 4 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |nationalyears3 = 2017 |nationalteam3 = [[France national under-18 football team|France U18]] |nationalcaps3 = 5 |nationalgoals3 = 0 |nationalyears4 = 2019 |nationalteam4 = [[France national under-20 football team|France U20]] |nationalcaps4 = 2 |nationalgoals4 = 0 |nationalyears5 = 2026– |nationalteam5 = [[France national football team|France]] |nationalcaps5 = 2 |nationalgoals5 = 0 |pcupdate = 17 May 2026 |ntupdate = 29 March 2026 }}
'''Maxence Guy Lacroix''' ({{IPA|fr|maksɑ̃s lakʁwa}}; born 6 April 2000) is a French professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[centre-back]] for [[Premier League]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] and the [[France national football team|France national team]].
Lacroix began his career at [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]], where he made his senior debut in 2018. He signed for [[Bundesliga]] side [[VfL Wolfsburg]] in 2020, spending four seasons in Germany before moving to Crystal Palace in 2024, where he has won the [[2024–25 FA Cup|FA Cup]], [[2025 FA Community Shield|Community Shield]] and [[2025–26 UEFA Conference League|UEFA Conference League]].
A former [[France national youth football team|France youth international]], Lacroix made his debut for the senior team in 2026.
==Club career==
===Sochaux=== On 21 August 2017, Lacroix signed his first professional contract with [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php/article/33-communique/10251-premier-contrat-professionnel-pour-maxence-lacroix|title=Premier contrat professionnel pour Maxence Lacroix|first=Fabien|last=FCSM|website=FC Sochaux|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020005753/http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php/article/33-communique/10251-premier-contrat-professionnel-pour-maxence-lacroix|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lacroix made his professional debut with Sochaux in a 1–0 [[Ligue 2]] win over [[FC Lorient]] on 22 December 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/85178|title=FC Sochaux-Montbéliard – FC Lorient (1–0) – Saison 2018/2019 – Domino's Ligue 2|website=www.lfp.fr}}</ref>
===VfL Wolfsburg=== On 25 August 2020, Lacroix joined [[VfL Wolfsburg]] on a four-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=valentin|date=25 August 2020|title=Maxence Lacroix transféré au VfL Wolfsburg|url=http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php/article/14657|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411040954/http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php/article/14657|archive-date=11 April 2021|access-date=25 August 2020|publisher=FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|language=fr|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=25 August 2020|title=Bienvenue, Maxence Lacroix|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/newsdetails/news-detail/detail/news/bienvenue-maxence-lacroix0/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 August 2020|publisher=VfL Wolfsburg|language=de}}</ref> On 27 February 2021, he scored his first [[Bundesliga]] goal in a 2–0 win over [[Hertha BSC]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/de/bundesliga/news/vfl-wolfsburg-hertha-bsc-23-spieltag-spielbericht-14935 |title=VfL Wolfsburg setzt beim 2:0 gegen Hertha BSC seine Erfolgsserie fort |website=Bundesliga |language=German |date=February 2021 }}</ref>
===Crystal Palace=== On 30 August 2024, [[Premier League]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] signed Lacroix for £18m on a five-year deal, reuniting him with former Wolfsburg manager [[Oliver Glasner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-sign-maxence-lacroix/|title=Crystal Palace sign Maxence Lacroix|publisher=Crystal Palace F.C.|date=30 August 2024|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 7 December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx2vm7z5xent|title=Crystal Palace 2–2 Manchester City|website=BBC|date=7 December 2024|accessdate=18 May 2025}}</ref> He played for the entirety of the [[2025 FA Cup final]] on 17 May 2025 as the club defeated [[Manchester City F.C.|City]] 1–0 to win its first ever major trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/first-team/maxence-lacroix-post-fa-cup-final-reaction/|title=Lacroix: Europe next year is gonna be fire!|website=CPFC|date=17 May 2025|accessdate=18 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm23zrkn7ryt|title=Crystal Palace beat Man City to win FA Cup at Wembley |website=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2025 |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>
Lacroix scored his first European goal for the club on 6 November 2025, firing home in the 22nd minute as Palace won 3–1 against [[AZ Alkmaar]] at [[Selhurst Park]] in the [[2025–26 UEFA Conference League|UEFA Conference League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12309/13463704/crystal-palace-3-1-az-alkmaar-ismaila-sarr-scores-two-as-oliver-glasners-eagles-climb-to-eighth-in-conference-league|title=Crystal Palace 3–1 AZ Alkmaar: Ismaila Sarr scores two as Oliver Glasner's Eagles climb to ninth in Conference League|website=Sky Sports|date=6 November 2025|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> He scored again on 26 February 2026 in the knockout round play-off second leg against [[HŠK Zrinjski Mostar]], heading home from an [[Adam Wharton]] free-kick in the 36th minute as Palace won 2–0 on the night and 3–1 on aggregate to advance to the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/matches/men/uefa-conference-league/2025-26/crystal-palace-vs-zrinjski-mostar-2026-02-26/2622485/|title=Crystal Palace vs Zrinjski Mostar – Match Centre|publisher=Crystal Palace F.C.|date=26 February 2026|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/maxence-lacroix-goal-helps-crystal-215411100.html|title=Maxence Lacroix goal helps Crystal Palace beat Zrinjski Mostar and reach last 16|website=Yahoo Sports|date=26 February 2026|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> In the Premier League, he headed Palace into an early lead at [[Old Trafford]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 1 March from a [[Brennan Johnson]] corner, but was sent off in the 52nd minute; United recovered to win 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/match-report-man-utd-v-crystal-palace-1-march-2026|title=Match report: Man Utd 2 Crystal Palace 1|publisher=Manchester United F.C.|date=1 March 2026|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> On 27 May, Lacroix played the full 90 minutes in the [[2026 UEFA Conference League final]] as Palace defeated [[Rayo Vallecano]] 1–0, securing the club's first ever European trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/02a5-20ba50a7a602-983af582dc90-1000--crystal-palace-1-0-rayo-vallecano-jean-philippe-mateta-wi/|title=Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano: Jean-Philippe Mateta wins Conference League for the Eagles|publisher=UEFA|date=27 May 2026|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48892535/crystal-palace-rayo-vallecano-conference-league-final-updates-score-commentary|title=Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano: Eagles create history with Conference League triumph|website=ESPN|date=27 May 2026|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Lacroix is a youth international for France, and represented the [[France national under-17 football team|France U17]]s at the [[2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship]] and [[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://labandeabonal.fr/2017/06/25/portrait-maxence-lacroix-reserve-u19/|title=Portrait de Maxence Lacroix (Réserve & U19)|date=25 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=20 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220091955/https://labandeabonal.fr/2017/06/25/portrait-maxence-lacroix-reserve-u19/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 22 March 2026, Lacroix received his first call-up to the senior [[France national football team|France national team]], for friendlies against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/William-saliba-forfait-avec-l-equipe-de-france-maxence-lacroix-appele-pour-la-premiere-fois/1661796 |title=William Saliba forfait avec l'équipe de France, Maxence Lacroix appelé pour la première fois |trans-title=William Saliba ruled out of the France squad; Maxence Lacroix called up for the first time |publisher=L'Équipe |language=fr |date=22 March 2026 |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lacroix was born in [[Villeneuve-Saint-Georges]], and his father is a doctor and his mother a nurse. He is of [[Guadeloupe]]an and [[Malagasy peoples|Malagasy]] descent through his father and mother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maxence Lacroix : « J'ai cassé tous les lampadaires du village avec mon ballon » |url=https://www.sofoot.com/maxence-lacroix-j-ai-casse-tous-les-lampadaires-du-village-avec-mon-ballon-496702.html |url-status=dead |website=SOFOOT.com |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809203651/https://www.sofoot.com/maxence-lacroix-j-ai-casse-tous-les-lampadaires-du-village-avec-mon-ballon-496702.html }}</ref> He is a devout Christian.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-24 |title=Maxence Lacroix on faith, leadership and FA Cup semi final |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/25113000.maxence-lacroix-faith-leadership-fa-cup-semi-final/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=News Shopper |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bechervaise |first=Tim |title='The one solid rock is Christ': The Christian faith of the Crystal Palace football team |url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/sport/the-one-solid-rock-is-christ-the-christian-faith-of-the-crystal-palace-football-team/19434.article |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Premier Christianity |language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 27 May 2026}}<ref>{{Soccerway}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de France]], [[DFB-Pokal]], [[FA Cup]]}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[EFL Cup]]}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|[[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux II]] |[[2017–18 Championnat National 3|2017–18]] |[[Championnat National 3]] |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |[[2018–19 Championnat National 3|2018–19]] |Championnat National 3 |12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |[[2019–20 Championnat National 3|2019–20]] |Championnat National 3 |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !13!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!13!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|[[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]] |[[2018–19 Ligue 2|2018–19]] |[[Ligue 2]] |7||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |[[2019–20 Ligue 2|2019–20]] |Ligue 2 |20||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!28!!0 |- |rowspan="6"|[[VfL Wolfsburg]] |[[2020–21 VfL Wolfsburg season|2020–21]] |[[Bundesliga]] |30||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||36||2 |- |[[2021–22 VfL Wolfsburg season|2021–22]] |Bundesliga |29||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||36||0 |- |[[2022–23 VfL Wolfsburg season|2022–23]] |Bundesliga |24||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||1 |- |[[2023–24 VfL Wolfsburg season|2023–24]] |Bundesliga |28||4||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||4 |- |[[2024–25 VfL Wolfsburg season|2024–25]] |Bundesliga |0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !111||6||10||0||colspan="2"|—||9||1!!colspan="2"|—!!130!!7 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] |[[2024–25 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2024–25]] |[[Premier League]] |35||1||5||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||43||1 |- |[[2025–26 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2025–26]] |Premier League |35||1||0||0||3||0||16{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Conference League]]}}||2||1{{efn|Appearance in [[FA Community Shield]]}}||0||55||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !70!!2!!5!!0!!6!!0!!16!!2!!1!!0!!98!!4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !221!!8!!16!!0!!6!!0!!25!!3!!1!!0!!269!!11 |} {{notelist}}
=== International === {{updated|match played 29 March 2026}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9565-lacroix-maxence/fiche.html |title=Maxence Lacroix |publisher=French Football Federation |access-date=27 March 2026 |language=fr}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|[[France national football team|France]] |2026||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||2||0 |}
==Honours== '''Crystal Palace''' *[[FA Cup]]: [[2024–25 FA Cup|2024–25]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cm23zrkn7ryt#Line-ups |title=Crystal Palace 1–0 Manchester City: Line-ups |website=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2025 |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref> *[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2025 FA Community Shield|2025]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cy7y0p1p7ezt#Report|title=FA Cup holders Crystal Palace beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield at Wembley.|website=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2025|access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref> *[[UEFA Conference League]]: [[2025–26 UEFA Conference League|2025–26]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKenna |first=Chris |date=27 May 2026 |title=Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/clypgp9wrp9t |access-date=27 May 2026 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *[[UEFA Conference League]] Team of the Season: [[2025–26 UEFA Conference League#Team of the Season|2025–26]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/02a5-20bbaea391dc-99c028b3e7fb-1000--2025-26-uefa-conference-league-team-of-the-season/ |title=2025/26 UEFA Conference League Team of the Season |website=[[UEFA]] |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=28 May 2026 |access-date=29 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/teams/first-team/players-and-staff/spieler-profil/Maxence-Lacroix Profile] at the VfL Wolfsburg website * {{FFF player}}
{{Crystal Palace F.C. squad}} {{France squad 2026 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lacroix, Maxence}} [[Category:2000 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Footballers from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges]] [[Category:French people of Guadeloupean descent]] [[Category:French sportspeople of Malagasy descent]] [[Category:Black French sportspeople]] [[Category:French men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football central defenders]] [[Category:FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players]] [[Category:VfL Wolfsburg players]] [[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players]] [[Category:Ligue 2 players]] [[Category:Championnat National 3 players]] [[Category:Bundesliga players]] [[Category:Premier League players]] [[Category:2026 FIFA World Cup players]] [[Category:France men's youth international footballers]] [[Category:France men's international footballers]] [[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Germany]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]] [[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]] [[Category:Long stubs with short prose]] [[Category:UEFA Conference League–winning players]] {{France-footy-defender-2000s-stub}}