Maxence Lacroix
A commanding French defender whose explosive pace and tactical intelligence have made him a modern pillar at the back for club and country.
Born 2000 (age 26)·French footballer·Birthday: April 6·Generation Z
Biography
Maxence Lacroix emerged not from a traditional footballing academy, but from the competitive crucible of FC Sochaux's youth system in eastern France. His professional journey began in earnest in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg, where his blend of raw physical power and surprising technical grace for a centre-back quickly turned heads. Lacroix's game is built on recovery speed and assertive defending, qualities that propelled him into the French national team setup and eventually to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. His rise speaks to a new generation of defenders who are as comfortable launching attacks as they are stopping them, marking him as a key figure in the evolving defensive landscape of European football.
Generation Z
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.
Maxence 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.
#1 When Maxence Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Maxence's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Established himself as a key defensive starter for VfL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, making over 100 appearances for the club.
- Earned a high-profile transfer to the English Premier League with Crystal Palace, a move underscoring his valued defensive attributes.
- Received call-ups to the senior France national team, recognizing his development among the country's top defensive talents.
Did You Know?
He shares a birthday (June 27) with fellow professional footballer and French international Houssem Aouar.
Lacroix was named in the French squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics football tournament.
His younger brother, Yannis Lacroix, is also a professional footballer playing as a goalkeeper.
“I came from Sochaux, a different path, and I had to prove myself in a new country.”
