Lionel Mpasi Nzau delivered a commanding performance in goal for DR Congo against England, making four crucial saves by the 60th minute and denying a combined xG of 1.23 — an average of over 0.30 xG per shot faced.

The display was no fluke. Mpasi Nzau has produced standout moments throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026, including what was arguably his best outing: a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in which he got his hands on eight attempts.

A shot-stopper forged in French football

Mpasi Nzau plies his trade in Ligue 1 with Le Havre, though he has not been a regular starter at club level. When called upon, however, he has made his presence felt in decisive fashion.

In February, he entered the fray at half-time in Le Havre's match against Toulouse and produced a remarkable 45-minute shift — five saves, four from inside the box, and an xG denied of 1.38. Le Havre went on to win 2-1, with two of those saves arriving in the 93rd and 98th minutes.

His Ligue 1 numbers from last season tell a similar story: four appearances, 3.8 saves per game, and 2.34 goals prevented.

Before joining Le Havre, Mpasi Nzau spent six seasons — from 2019 to 2025 — with Rodez FC in Ligue 2. He has played his entire club career in France.

From French youth football to DR Congo's number one

Born and raised in France, Mpasi Nzau represented the French national team at under-17 level in 2011, though he did not feature in a single match at the U-17 FIFA World Cup, where he was an unused member of the squad across all five games.

A decade later, in 2021, he received a call-up for DR Congo during qualifying for the World Cup. His first competitive appearance for the national side came in 2023, when he was named Man of the Match in a 2-0 win over Gabon in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Since that breakout display, Mpasi Nzau has been the undisputed first choice between the sticks for manager Sebastien Desabre, starting every match for DR Congo at the FIFA World Cup 2026.