French Teen Footballers Win Speaking Contest at Versailles

Sixteen-year-old Arthur Bar and his teammate Zélie Merlaud from Paris Saint-Germain's youth academy recently competed for a trophy that had nothing to do with goals or assists. Instead, they delivered a five-minute speech about children's rights at the Palace of Versailles, judged by former government ministers and Olympic medalists.

"We proved that football doesn't make us idiots," Arthur told reporters after the competition. "I think today we managed to break down stereotypes."

The national public speaking competition, organized by French nonprofit Prométhée Éducation, draws hundreds of aspiring professional footballers each year. Twenty young players from ten elite academies made it to the final round on May 28th, many experiencing the UNESCO World Heritage site for the first time.

Major French clubs including PSG, AS Monaco, and Olympique Lyonnais now support their young players in perfecting public speaking skills. The program was founded by Mohamed Slim, a Sciences Po Paris graduate who coaches footballers in his spare time.

"Many young footballers come from disadvantaged neighborhoods," Mohamed explained. "Athletes are role models who carry messages, so they need to be able to speak with ease."

Sixteen-year-old Usuman Kebeh from AS Monaco won top honors with his speech on whether luck is just an illusion. The midfielder from Gambia said he had no idea he possessed this talent.

"When I went up on stage, I thought about where I come from," Usuman shared. "I was representing my country, all Africans, all Black people. I really went against a stereotype."

Why This Inspires

The competition's impact extends far beyond football pitches. Pascal Gentil, a double Olympic taekwondo medalist serving on the jury, praised how Usuman captivated the audience through tone, body language, and strategic silence.

Former Gender Equality Minister Elisabeth Moreno spent two and a half hours listening to teenagers present powerful messages. "Hearing a young man talk about inequality between men and women gave me goosebumps," she said.

National Assembly member Karl Olive noted the transformation happening in French sports. "Ten years ago, very few professional clubs had this kind of course in their programs," he said. "Many of these young people would be capable of addressing the National Assembly!"

The program has already coached major talents including LOSC Lille player Ayyoub Bouaddi and PSG midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery. For participants like Zélie, the skills extend beyond sports: "We have to keep practicing for our oral baccalauréat exam and other big tests we'll face."

These young athletes are proving that excellence on the field and eloquence off it aren't mutually exclusive.