

A French goalkeeper who, as a teenager, became the youngest ever to keep a clean sheet in the English Premier League.
Illan Meslier's rise was as swift as it was unexpected. The lanky goalkeeper from Brittany, France, arrived at Leeds United on loan in 2019 as a relative unknown, an understudy. When first-choice keeper Kiko Casilla received a suspension, Meslier was thrust into the spotlight during Leeds' intense campaign for promotion to the Premier League. He didn't just fill in; he excelled, displaying a calmness that belied his years. His crucial performances helped secure the club's long-awaited return to the top flight. Once there, he made the position his own, breaking a Premier League age record for shutouts and facing a barrage of shots with a blend of sharp reflexes and adept footwork. While his journey has seen the turbulence of Leeds' fortunes, Meslier's early establishment as a top-flight goalkeeper at such a young age marked him as a significant talent in the demanding world of English football.
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Illan was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The world at every milestone
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
He is left-footed, which is somewhat uncommon for goalkeepers.
Meslier stands 6 feet 6 inches tall (1.98 meters).
Before joining Leeds, he was the captain of the French Lorient B team.
“You must be ready when your name is called, with no time for fear.”