Franco-Ivorian striker Eli Junior Kroupi chooses France despite Portugal approach

Franco-Ivorian striker Eli Junior Kroupi has chosen France over Portugal after being approached by Portuguese national team coach Roberto Martinez ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Martinez revealed on Tuesday that Portugal had attempted to convince the young Bournemouth forward to represent the country of his mother, but the player instead decided to continue his international journey with France.

The Portugal coach made the comments while announcing his 27-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. During the media briefing, the Belgian tactician confirmed that discussions had taken place with Kroupi before the March international camp.

“There was indeed contact, yes. I’m happy because we took the initiative. Before the training camp in March, we tried to talk.

It’s important to keep an eye on players who might wear the Portuguese jersey, but you also have to know if the player wants to. At that time, Kroupi wanted to play for France, and we respected his choice,” Martinez told the media.

Kroupi, who is eligible to represent France, Ivory Coast and Portugal, has already featured for the French Under-21 side and appears determined to continue within the French national team setup.

The forward’s decision brings an end to Portugal’s hopes of securing one of Europe’s emerging attacking talents.

Although born into a multicultural background through his Portuguese mother and Ivorian roots, the striker has consistently leaned towards France in recent months.

The former FC Lorient player had previously spoken publicly about his international ambitions during an interview with Téléfoot broadcast on TF1 in March, where he made clear his preference for Les Bleus.

Kroupi’s rise has attracted growing attention across Europe, with his performances helping establish him as one of the young forwards closely monitored at international level.

Portugal’s approach highlighted the competition surrounding players with multiple national eligibilities, particularly those developing within top European leagues.

For now, however, the Bournemouth striker’s focus remains firmly on France, with Martinez acknowledging that Portugal respected the player’s decision after their attempt to persuade him proved unsuccessful.

The decision also means Ivory Coast miss out on another promising attacking option, as Kroupi edges closer to a potential future with the senior French national team.