French · Dieppe, France · Born 22 September 1970Elegant French midfielder who scored in the 1998 World Cup final and formed a brilliant partnership with Patrick Vieira at Arsenal.
Emmanuel Laurent Petit was born in Dieppe, France on 22 September 1970. He began at Monaco, winning Ligue 1 in 1997, before joining Arsenal for £3.5 million in 1997. He formed an outstanding midfield partnership with Patrick Vieira and was integral to Arsenal's Double in 1997-98. A technically gifted, combative and versatile midfielder who could also play at left-back, Petit scored the final goal in France's 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final. He made 118 appearances for Arsenal before joining Barcelona in 2000 for £7 million. After a disappointing spell at the Camp Nou, he moved to Chelsea where he played until 2004. He earned 63 caps for France, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
Scoring France's third goal in the 1998 World Cup final victory
He scored the third goal in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil, and his flowing blond ponytail made him one of the most recognisable players at the tournament.
Did You Know?How They Played
Defensive midfielder known for work rate, tackling and occasional long-range goals
Lasting Impact
Key player in France's golden generation who won World Cup and Euro 2000
Career Honours
- Premier League 1998
- FA Cup 1998
- World Cup 1998
- Euro 2000
- Ligue 1 1997
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monaco | 1990–1997 | 282 | 9 | #17 |
| Arsenal | 1997–2000 | 206 | 47 | #10 |
| Barcelona | 2000–2001 | 35 | 9 | #10 |
| Chelsea | 2001–2004 | 76 | 3 | — |
 France | — | 63 | 6 | — |
French Athletes