Sébastien Bassong – FC Metz (15/04/2008)

Here is a rare collector's item, from the knockout matches of the oldest French competition.

This Match Worn jersey was used by the solid defender Sébastien Bassong during the French Cup quarter-final between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Metz, on April 15, 2008.

Match Context: The Grenats' last stand at Gerland

That evening, at the Gerland stadium, the challenge was immense for the Messins, then in great difficulty in the league, who traveled to face the Lyonnais giants on their way to a historic Cup-Championship double.

In a very competitive match, FC Metz showed exemplary courage and challenged the home side's certainties. OL finally won by the smallest of margins, 1-0, thanks to a coolly taken goal by Karim Benzema in the 39th minute. Despite the elimination, the Lorrains left the competition with their heads held high after having made the best team in France doubt until the very last moments.

Sébastien Bassong: The Rock of Moselle

Revealed in the jersey bearing the Cross of Lorraine, Sébastien Bassong was the boss of FC Metz's defense in the late 2000s.

An athletic, fast, and imperious central defender in the air, he distinguished himself in this quarter-final by his sense of sacrifice and his sharp interventions against the Lyonnais offensive armada. This jersey, sporting the specific French Cup patches, experienced the intensity of duels against world-class attackers, symbolizing the player's last minutes in Messin colors before his big departure for the English Premier League a few months later.

This jersey is a strong testament to the history of the Lorraine club in the French Cup. For any collector, owning a jersey worn by a defender of this caliber in such a fixture against the great Lyon of 2008 represents an exceptional opportunity.