Éric Abidal is a left back who plays for Spanish side Barcelona and the French national team. Abidal was born and bred in Lyon but started his professional career first at AS Monaco, then at Lille. In 2004 he moved back to his home town and joined Olympique Lyonnais. With Lyon he won Ligue 1 three years in a row, before signing with Barcelona in June 2007 for €15 million. The contract also stated that Lyon would receive an extra €500,000 if Barcelona win the Champions League in any of the next four seasons, which they did in the 2008-09 season.
Abidal made his debut for the French national team in August 2004. He has been France’s first choice left back in the 2006 World Cup, in Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.