Overview
Malo Gusto, born on May 19, 2003, in Décines-Charpieu, France, is a professional footballer who has quickly established himself as a notable right-back in European football. Standing at 1.79 meters, Gusto possesses the physical attributes and technical proficiency required for the modern full-back role. He began his professional journey with Olympique Lyonnais, rising through their esteemed academy before making a significant move to the Premier League. Gusto represents France internationally, having progressed through various youth levels before earning his senior debut.
Position
Gusto operates primarily as a right-back, a position that demands both defensive solidity and offensive output. His role involves tracking opposition wingers, contributing to build-up play, and providing width in attack. He is adept at overlapping runs, delivering crosses into the box, and supporting the midfield defensively. While predominantly a right-back, his versatility has seen him occasionally deployed in a more advanced right-midfield role, leveraging his pace and crossing ability.
Identity
Malo Gusto's identity on the pitch is characterized by his athleticism, dynamism, and attacking intent. He is often described as a modern full-back, prioritizing high-energy contributions across the entire right flank. His ability to recover defensively after making forward runs, coupled with his willingness to engage in one-on-one duels, defines his robust playing style. Gusto's progression from the youth ranks to senior football at a relatively young age has marked him as a talent with significant potential in the right-back position.
Career path
Malo Gusto's footballing journey began in the youth setup of Olympique Lyonnais, one of France's prominent academies known for developing young talent. He joined Lyon's academy in 2016, progressing through their age-group teams. His performances at youth level quickly caught the attention of the senior coaching staff, leading to his professional debut.
Olympique Lyonnais
Gusto made his senior debut for Olympique Lyonnais on January 24, 2021, featuring in a Ligue 1 match against Saint-Étienne. He signed his first professional contract with the club in December 2020, committing his future to Lyon. Over the following seasons, Gusto steadily integrated into the first team, becoming a regular starter. During his tenure at Lyon, he made 68 appearances across all competitions, providing 10 assists. His consistent performances in Ligue 1 and European competitions garnered significant interest from clubs across Europe. Transfermarkt details his appearances and transfer history.
Chelsea
On January 29, 2023, Malo Gusto completed a transfer to Chelsea. The agreement saw him immediately loaned back to Olympique Lyonnais for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season, ensuring he continued to gain first-team experience. He officially joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023. His move to the Premier League marked a significant step in his career, placing him in one of Europe's top leagues. Since joining Chelsea, Gusto has competed for the right-back position, showcasing his abilities in the English top flight and contributing to the club's defensive and attacking efforts. His presence has added depth and dynamism to Chelsea's squad, as noted by various football publications detailing his transfer and subsequent performances.
Playing style
Malo Gusto's playing style is characterized by his modern interpretation of the right-back role, combining defensive responsibility with significant attacking contributions. His athleticism is a key attribute, allowing him to cover the flank effectively for the full 90 minutes. Gusto possesses notable pace, which enables him to make recovery runs defensively and to burst past opponents in offensive transitions.
Defensively, Gusto is a tenacious tackler and is willing to engage in duels. He exhibits good positional awareness, though like many young full-backs, he is continually refining this aspect of his game. His ability to intercept passes and disrupt opposition attacks is a growing strength. According to FBref, his defensive actions, including tackles and interceptions, highlight his commitment to winning back possession.
In attack, Gusto is known for his overlapping runs and crossing ability. He often pushes high up the pitch, providing width and delivering dangerous balls into the penalty area. His crosses are typically whipped with pace and accuracy, aiming to find teammates in goal-scoring positions. Gusto also demonstrates good dribbling skills, allowing him to beat his man in wide areas and create space for himself or others. His offensive contributions are comparable to other modern full-backs who are expected to be key playmakers from wide defensive positions, such as Achraf Hakimi or Trent Alexander-Arnold, in terms of their attacking output and ability to influence games from deep.
His work rate is consistently high, contributing to both pressing schemes and defensive tracking. This makes him a valuable asset in systems that demand dynamic full-backs capable of impacting both ends of the pitch. Gusto's passing range is also developing, enabling him to contribute to build-up play from deeper positions.
Achievements & honours
As a young player, Malo Gusto's career is still in its early stages, but he has already accumulated valuable experience at both club and international youth levels. His time with Olympique Lyonnais provided him with exposure to top-flight French football and European competitions, while his move to Chelsea places him in one of the world's most competitive leagues. While major senior team trophies are yet to be secured, his consistent performances have been recognized.
His primary achievements to date are centered around his rapid ascent through the youth ranks and establishing himself as a first-team player at two significant European clubs.
Club
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Olympique Lyonnais | UEFA Europa League (Participation) | 2021-2022 |
| Chelsea | Premier League (Participation) | 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026 |
Gusto's significant achievement has been his ability to transition from a promising academy graduate to a regular starter in Ligue 1 and subsequently earn a high-profile move to the Premier League. This progression underscores his talent and potential. While individual awards and team trophies are often benchmarks, his consistent selection and performance at a high level are indicative of his standing in the game.
International career
Malo Gusto has represented France at various youth international levels, progressing through the national team's development system. His performances for Olympique Lyonnais and later Chelsea brought him into contention for the senior national team.
Gusto earned caps for France at the U17, U18, U19, and U21 levels. His involvement with the U21 squad was particularly notable, as he became a key player for them during qualification campaigns and tournaments. This experience provided him with valuable exposure to international competition and further honed his skills against top young talents from other nations.
His senior international debut for the France national team came on October 13, 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands. This marked a significant milestone in his career, earning his first cap for one of the world's leading footballing nations. As of May 2026, Gusto has one senior cap for France. The French national team, under Didier Deschamps, has a strong pool of talent, particularly in defensive positions, making competition for places intense. Gusto's call-up and subsequent debut reflect his growing stature in European football and his potential to become a regular fixture for Les Bleus in future campaigns, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship tournaments. His continued development at club level will be crucial for solidifying his place in the national squad.
What makes Malo Gusto stand out
Malo Gusto stands out primarily due to his exceptional athleticism and his relentless attacking drive from the right-back position. His ability to maintain a high work rate throughout a match, constantly shuttling up and down the flank, provides a dynamic dimension to his team's play. He possesses a rare combination of pace and stamina, allowing him to be both an offensive threat and a defensive presence.
Another distinguishing trait is his crossing ability. Gusto consistently delivers accurate and dangerous balls into the box, often from advanced positions, which creates significant goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. This offensive output, combined with his defensive tenacity, makes him a well-rounded modern full-back.
"Malo Gusto brings energy and real quality to the right-back position. His attacking runs and defensive commitment are exactly what you want from a modern full-back."