Exposition: Les Bleus, deux étoiles et une légende

Beginning with the seminal 1930 voyage to Uruguay, this exhibition traces the beginnings of the French national team and its gradual rise in World Cup history.

Rare images evoke the pioneering era, such as the departure aboard the SS Conte Verde and the 1938 tournament hosted by France, marked by elimination at the hands of Italy. They also bear witness to early sporting triumphs, like the 1958 campaign in Sweden, which saw *Les Bleus* secure their first international podium finish and Just Fontaine set a still-unbroken record of 13 goals. These archives reveal a team in the making, driven by standout personalities and growing ambition on the global stage.

The journey continues through the great moments of French soccer, encompassing memorable achievements and pivotal turning points that have shaped the collective memory. From the legendary 1982 semi-final in Seville to the heroics against Brazil in 1986, the photographs illustrate the dramatic intensity and the team's rising momentum. The images culminate in the 1998 triumph, a symbol of a nation united behind its team.

Images from the 2006, 2018, and 2022 finals extend this story, featuring iconic moments, world championship victories, and unforgettable matches. The photographs depict a team that has become an international touchstone capable of igniting exceptional public fervor as evidenced by the celebrations on the Champs-Élysées—an embodiment of the bond between a nation and its team.