Patrice Evra: December 2025 Football Insights & Predictions
We recently caught up with Stake Ambassador Patrice Evra to discuss the 2026 World Cup, Premier League and AFCON. Discover this exclusive interview and gain exclusive football betting insights before placing your bets on Stake !
Given your experience playing in multiple World Cups, which teams or national squads do you expect to be among the strongest contenders after the 2026 draw?
France will be up there, but it was a really tough draw for them because they're going to be playing Senegal, where I'm born and where my dad comes from. And I remember in 2002 when Senegal beat France - it was a mixed emotion. That's why for me, this game will be really tough because it's between choosing my dad and choosing my mum. France has a great chance because the squad is strong, it’s full of young talent, but it's difficult to predict who's going to win the World Cup. I always say that. You’ve got the holders Argentina, Portugal with Cristiano, which could maybe be his last World Cup, like him and Messi, but we never know with Cristiano. He can play until he’s 100 years old. You get teams who can surprise you. You’ve got Brazil, but they’re in a group with Morocco and Scotland and it won't be that easy. I also hope to see an African team make a surprise.
From a former professional’s perspective: what does a “favourable draw” mean and is there such a thing when the tournament begins?
There’s a lot of pressure,especially in the first game. You have a month to get ready, but you don't know the atmosphere, you don't know the feeling and you always have your backs to the wall if you don't win your first game. Even if you draw, you already have massive pressure to win the second game. So I think when you start with three points, you can easily breathe.
What does the shirt actually mean to you: pride, responsibility, pressure… or something different?
It means a lot. When you retire, you understand the importance of the World Cup because as a player, you are professional, so we focus and we try to put extra pressure on ourselves. When you play at a high level, it's like a normal game, but actually, it's not normal and I realised this once I retired. When I retired and I went to a World Cup and I saw the people wearing the French shirt or whatever the country they represented, that's when you understand. Yes, when I was selected for my first World Cup, it was a dream come true. For players now, you train every day the same way and you play a game and just play with a different shirt. That's when I think it's the manager’s job to explain to the players, you’re representing your country - this is completely different.
Is there a moment in a World Cup where you felt you were playing for people beyond football - family, communities, history?
It happened for me in Brazil 2014, it was really, really special. I was starting to do some meditation and I just felt different. I felt like I wasn't even playing for myself, I was just playing for my family and my teammates. It was something special.
When you hear your national anthem in a World Cup stadium, how do the fans’ emotions change what’s happening inside you as a player?
It's a really proud moment. And I know some players don't sing the national anthem and there's been a lot of debate on that. For me, it's something I always liked to sing - I'm proud of it. It’s the moment where you feel you play for your country.
Have you ever felt the crowd drive the team forward when legs are gone - what does that feel like on the pitch?
Yes, it was for a different competition. It was Euro 2016, but it was the semi-final against Germany and we played in Marseille. The atmosphere was electric. I don't like to find any excuses but if we played that final in Marseille we would have beaten Portugal. So my best memory was that and also qualifying for the World Cup
After the tournament ends, what stays with you the most: the results, the memories, or the feeling of representing the country?
It's really difficult to digest after a World Cup tournament because you have a bit of time off but then you have to immediately join your club teammates. So it's heavy when you play for a country like France, because if you do a great tournament, then people are behind you and they show you off even if you don't win it. But if you have a bad tournament like in 2010, it’s a heavy, heavy burden and it’s really difficult to switch on when you’re back with your club.
Who is England’s biggest threat to winning the tournament?
It’s always the same with England. Before the tournament starts, you're going to say England are the favourites because they’ve got some of the best young players and they are on fire. My only worry with England is I feel like they’ve got the players, but they don't have the team yet. We had the same issue with France before Didier Deschamps came in. Under Deschamps, the team is the star, not one player. With England, it's not the same generation when there was Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand and you had the club rivalries. England have got rid of that. Now you can see they play more as a team.But it's a shame they haven’t won yet, they go into tournaments with a lot of hope. The one thing I’d say to England fans is do not sing “It’s Coming Home’ - I feel like it’s a curse. When that’s chanted you know England don’t win and nothing comes home. But I do see them as a strong contender next summer. They have some of the best players, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. When you see those names it’s almost like they have to win something, but the World Cup is different.
In the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, Portugal and Argentina could face each other - with Ronaldo and Messi facing off for possibly the final time - how exciting would that be?
I think they will make it happen. It will be amazing for the two goats of football to face each other again. I would love to see that.
Who is your GOAT - Messi or Ronaldo?
Everyone has a preference. I pick Ronaldo over Messi. Not because Ronaldo is one of my brothers and I played with him for many years. It's because I'm in love with his work ethic. Messi is talented and gifted, as is Cristiano, but the way Cristiano is still playing, that's why I pick him over Messi. I respect Messi. People think when you say you like Cristiano more, it means you don’t like Messi. If you don't like Messi, then you don’t have anything to do with football. Messi has already won the World Cup with Argentina, so I hope Cristiano wins it next summer.
How do you see Brazil faring at the World Cup?
It's tough. When I was kid, Brazil used to be one of my favorite teams with Bebeto, Rivaldo and players of that stature. Brazil is Brazil, but I feel the current team is less gifted. The special player now is Neymar. Yes, you’ve got Vinicius Jr, but he’s not the calibre of Neymar - that’s the kind of player Brazil need. At the moment, Brazil could beat Argentina but lose to Scotland. They’ve got Carlo Ancelotti as their manager, so maybe he’ll make them hard to beat.
Do Brazil’s hopes of winning the World Cup rest on Vinicius Jr’s shoulders? Especially if Neymar misses out through injury?
I just love Vinicius. He's a great player, but he can sometimes disappear in big games - that’s my worry. I just feel like since they didn't give him the Ballon d'Or, where he should have won it, something changed in him. You can see it when he plays for Real Madrid.If he had that Ballon d'Or, you would see a different Vinicius this year. I know he’s still one of Brazil's biggest players, but he’s not Neymar.
Brazilian wonderkid Endrick is struggling for regular playing time at Real Madrid - does he need to push for an exit in January?
We were expecting Endrick to be a big hit at Real Madrid, but he’s on the bench. There’s even a picture of him crying, so I feel like he’s really hurt. He's scared he won't be selected for the World Cup. A lot of Brazilian players are underperforming for their clubs. They just need to focus on their football.
Can Moises Caicedo lead Ecuador far into the World Cup? They also have Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie starting in their defence too…
I’ve always said it’s never easy to play against Ecuador. I played a lot against Ecuador and it's a tough team to beat. They play as a team and are difficult to beat. They run like a machine. I remember playing against them and after five minutes I couldn’t breathe! Ecuador can be seen as a dark horse for the World Cup. I wouldn’t want to face Ecuador in the knockout stages.
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