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Manchester United defender, Raphael Varane at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Ahtoh.

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Raphael Varane

Raphael Xavier Varane is an incredible French professional football player. He plays center-back (central defender) for Manchester United and the France national team.

His prowess, skill, and speed make him one of the best defenders of his generation. He made his professional debut in the game in 2010 at age 17 at a French club.

He later joined Real Madrid, where he achieved greatly within the 10 seasons, winning 18 trophies.

These include four UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, and one Copa del Rey.

He left Real Madrid to join Manchester United in 2021. Raphael has had a successful career so far and is a recipient of numerous awards and honors.

Let’s have a look at the top 10 amazing facts about Raphael Varane.

1. Raphael Varane began his professional career at 17

Varane began playing football at age 11 at a local club in Lille, AS Hellemmes. He then joined the French club Lens after two years, in 2002.

He trained hard and showed great potential. Varane rose through the youth ranks quite fast, and in the 2008-09 season, he played in the under-16 team. They won the Championnat National des 16 ans.

He was subsequently promoted to the under 19 team, despite being two years younger than his teammates.

He then started training with the senior team ahead of the 2010-11 season.

Varane went on to sign his first professional contract that season and made his debut in the senior team against Montpellier.

He played the 90 minutes and his team won a 2-0 victory.

2. He has represented France in the FIFA World Cup

Raphael Varane, World Cup 2018. Photo by Ahtoh.

Varane made his debut for France in 2013 at a qualifier for the World Cup. He was thereafter included in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

France was however eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany. Varane was nominated for the tournament’s Best Young Player Award.

On 14 October 2014, he became the youngest player to captain France having taken over Blaise Matuidi in a 3-0 win against Armenia.

In 2018, Varane was part of the France squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

He played in all seven of France’s games and scored the opening goal in the quarter-final against Uruguay. France won.

3. Raphael is the 4^th player to ever win two international titles in the same year

In 2018, Raphael played for France in the 2018 World Cup and France won for the second time in history.

He had also won the UEFA Champions League the same year in the 2017-18 season at Real Madrid.

This made him the 4^th player to become a World Cup Champion and Champions League winner in the same year.

The first three were Christian Karembeu (1998), Roberto Carlos (2002), and Sami Khedira (2014).

4. He played for Real Madrid for 10 seasons

Raphael Varane in Real Madrid. Photo by Katabasis.

Having played for Lens for about 9 years, Varane signed a 6-year contract with La Liga club, Real Madrid on 27 June 2011.

He made his debut for the club in the 2011 World Football Challenge against Los Angeles Galaxy. He appeared as a half-time substitute. Madrid won a 4-1 victory.

Varane scored his first goal for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano, a Spanish football club in Madrid.

He became the youngest foreign player to score a goal in a competitive match for Real Madrid. He was 18 years old.

Raphael Varane went on to play in 10 seasons for Real Madrid, making a good number of appearances in the UEFA Champions League and winning numerous trophies.

5. Raphael Varane won 18 trophies at Real Madrid

Varane after winning the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. Photo by Ahtoh.

His won trophies include four UEFA League Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, three La Liga titles, and one Copa del Rey.

He won the La Liga titles for three seasons; 2011-12, 2016-17, and 2019-20. He won the FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

In January 2013, he made his El Clasico debut against Barcelona in the 2012-13 Copa del Rey, an annual knockout competition in Spanish football.

Varane played Center-back fiercely, stopping several fatal attacks from Barcelona.

He topped his performance with a head goal, becoming the second-youngest foreign player to score for Madrid in a Clasico match.

Varane won the UEFA Super Cup thrice in 2014, 2016, and 2017.

6. He joined Manchester United in 2021

Manchester United v Leicester City, Premier League, 2 April 2022.  Varane on second right. Photo by Ardfern.

Raphael’s transfer to Manchester United was completed on 14 August 2021 after the agreement to join the club had been announced in July.

He was assigned the number 19 shirt, previously worn by Amad Diallo. He had worn the same shirt when he first joined Real Madrid.

Raphael made his debut for Manchester United in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 29 August 2021.

He made an assist to the winning goal in a 1-0 victory. He scored his first goal for the club in a match against Brentford on 2 May 2022. Man U won 3-0.

7. He has been described as one of the best defenders in world football

Image of a football player tackling an opponent by Phillip Kofler-

Raphael Varane plays center-back (central defender). His prowess and skill have earned him respect as one of the best of his time.

In 2013, former World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu described him as a kid who has unseated Pepe, and Pepe, with all his great stuff, is still a great center-half.’

This was after his brilliant performance against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

Former France defender Frank Leboeuf has intimated that Varane is much faster and stronger compared to Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro.

Legendary football manager, Jose Mourinho has labeled Varane as one of the best defenders of world football.

8. He has won numerous awards in his career

Raphael’s impeccable performances in the field had earned him a series of awards.

Following his performances in the 2017-18 season at Real Madrid and internationally, he was ranked 7^th in the 2018 Ballon D’or.

He was also elected as starting center back for the 2018 FIFPro Men’s World11, and the UEFA Team of the Year.

He also won the 2018 FIFA World Cup Fantasy Team, FIFA World Cup Dream Team, and IFFHS Men’s World Team.

9. Raphael has received the Order of Knight of the Legion of Honor

On 31^st December 2018, Raphael was awarded the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the President of France for his win at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The National Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest order of merit, both civil and military, in France.

It was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and has since been retained by successive French governments.

10. Raphael Varane is married to Camille Tytgat

The two long-term partners got married at Le Touquet seaside resort in France in 2015. Camille is a qualified lawyer and the two met in high school.

They have two children, a son named Ruben and a daughter named Anais.

Varane’s brother, Jonathan Varane, is a professional footballer at Rodez AF.