For a team to perform on the field, there are always people working behind the scenes - far from the spotlight and the television cameras - whose contributions are essential to helping players reach their peak. That is certainly true of the chefs who travel with national teams during international tournaments. With the French national team, Xavier Rousseau has served as head chef for the past nine years, overseeing the diet of stars such as Kylian Mbappé.

“Nobody in France at his level”

“As the years go by, you inevitably build a special bond with some players,” Rousseau told a 2024 interview with Actu Paris. “I first met Kylian Mbappé when he was 17 years old. The key isn’t creating a balanced diet; it’s creating smart cuisine.” The connection he develops with players is so strong - and his monitoring so detailed, including tracking their caloric intake - that when France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he received a winner’s medal alongside other members of Didier Deschamps’ staff.

For Rousseau, who shares a surname with one of France’s most celebrated philosophers, life changed with a single phone call. As he was preparing to move to the Canary Islands to continue his studies, Pavillon Ledoyen - one of Paris’ most exclusive restaurants, located on the Champs-Élysées - offered him an opportunity. “I lived in a room that was less than 10 square meters near the restaurant, and I worked mornings and evenings with almost no time off,” he recalled in his interview with Actu Paris.

After working in several kitchens across the French capital, Rousseau became a chef at Roland Garros, operating at the heart of one of the sport’s most iconic venues. The role helped him build a valuable network of contacts. He later worked at the Vincennes Racecourse before, in 2017, the French Soccer Federation hired him as part of its search for a new chef to lead the national team’s culinary operations.

Since then, Rousseau has spent nine uninterrupted years traveling with Les Bleus, meticulously managing nutrition plans designed for elite performance. Every tournament menu is carefully balanced, closely monitored, and tailored to the demands of top-level competition. During France’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup, he developed a particularly close relationship with Paul Pogba. He also forged a strong bond with Mbappé, who has consistently spoken highly of him whenever asked.

Today, Rousseau is regarded as one of France’s most respected chefs, and the French SoccerFederation has continued to renew his contract year after year. Internally, those around the program are unequivocal: “There is nobody in France at his level.” The secret behind his success remains guarded like a priceless treasure.

Related stories

World Cup 2026

Wild 2026 World Cup stats: Mbappé caught speeding

World Cup 2026

Quarterfinal previews: ‘Les Bleus’ still highly tipped

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.