A Journey in Blue

BLU caught up with Andréa Le Borgne before, during, and after his first World Cup with France’s Under-20 side in Chile. What emerged was the portrait of a player in motion, discovering what it means to wear the blue of his country and the blue of Como 1907.

It began as a dream and ended as a declaration. For Le Borgne, the French midfielder who joined Como earlier this year, the Under-20 World Cup was more than a tournament. It was a turning point, a coming of age in the colours of his nation and, in spirit, of his club.

“It’s a childhood dream come true! An indescribable joy. Representing your country and wearing the blue jersey is a source of immense pride. It’s an important milestone that marks my path, where hard work is essential,” he says, still half in disbelief at what has unfolded.

For a player who turned nineteen this summer, Le Borgne already speaks with the poise of someone much older. He arrived at Como in January from Nice, a quiet addition to a club rebuilding its future. Since then, he has been training regularly with Cesc Fabregas’s first-team group and became one of the Primavera’s most watchful and ambitious voices.

“It’s a big yes,” he says when asked if Como has shaped his growth. “A young professional needs inspiration and emulation to reach greater heights. Como is the ideal club in this sense. From the coach to the top-level players, including the support staff and managers, everything is done to ensure fulfilment and success. The blue of France that I will wear during this World Cup will thus have a shade of the blue of Como 1907.”

In Chile, those two shades of blue seemed to merge. Making his first start for France, Le Borgne scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win that captured international attention and earned him the man of the match award.

“A hat-trick and man of the match, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better first start with the French team. I worked hard to get here, and today my work is paying off. When the ball flew into the goal for the third goal, I was so happy and proud.”

The words are simple, but the feeling runs deep. For a midfielder known for control and intelligence rather than flamboyance, scoring three goals in one match was a revelation. “It’s clear that training every day and perfecting my skills around the penalty area is helping me score more goals today as a midfielder,” he explains. “The new generation of midfielders has to do everything: they have to defend well and attack well. I have to work even harder to become a great player.”

In his voice there is none of the detachment that often follows early success. Le Borgne talks as someone who knows where he comes from and where he is going. He speaks of patience — of waiting for his first start and of knowing what to do when the chance came. “I knew how to wait and be patient for my first start in the starting eleven. I knew I had a chance and that I could bring something extra to the team. I think I’ve made an impression and we’re all going to continue in the same direction with this team to get the win in the round of 16 against Japan. We have a great team, it’s up to us to do well.”

France would go on to reach the semi-finals, finishing fourth, but for Le Borgne the experience was much more than a result. “I am very happy and very proud. This fourth place in the World Cup is the result of a great team effort. I am very happy to have been part of this adventure at the call of coach Bernard Diomède. I would like to thank him for the confidence he showed in me and for his words throughout the competition. This was essential for me, as it was my first time playing for the French team. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who encouraged and supported us.”

He pauses before naming the two moments that will stay with him forever. “I think I will remember every moment of this adventure in Chile for the rest of my life. Right down to the smallest detail. But if I had to choose two highlights, I will always remember the exhilarating joy of scoring the third goal in my hat-trick in the group stage and the explosive relief of that victory against Japan in the last minute of extra time in the round of 16, which opened the door to the quarter-finals for us. Unforgettable!”

For Le Borgne, the tournament was both an arrival and a beginning. “Playing in a World Cup in Chile was very rewarding, both collectively and individually. It was an extraordinary experience because, as I said, it was my debut with the French national team. And that nourished me. I gained confidence and self-assurance. Believing in yourself and in the team to achieve your goals and exceed them. Now it’s up to me to build on and capitalise on this experience with Como to continue my development and meet the club’s expectations.”

That next step has already begun. “For me, there is a before and after the World Cup, because today I am joining Cesc Fabregas’s team on a full-time basis. It’s up to me to repay that trust by working hard to show my qualities and gradually earn my place in the team. This club opened the doors to the French national team for me, and I will never forget that. This is just the beginning. The best is yet to come, and together we will work to go as far as possible. Let’s go!”

In his words there is no trace of arrogance, only belief. The journey from Neuilly-sur-Seine to Como, from youth prospect to World Cup player, is the story of a young man learning to trust himself, in two languages and in two shades of blue.