Ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal, we have picked out several of Malo Gusto's best moments yet in a blue shirt.
The Frenchman joined the Blues from Lyon in 2023 and has now racked up 134 appearances for us. On the international stage, he has accrued 11 senior caps and will hope to that tally in the coming weeks as France try and reach the final of the World Cup for the third tournament running.
There has been plenty for Chelsea supporters to enjoy from Malo in a blue shirt so far, and we start our recap of his highlights at the very beginning…
Gusto's Blues bow
Gusto's transfer was completed in January 2023, but he spent the remainder of the campaign back on loan at Lyon. He linked up with the Blues ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and made his debut during the opening weekend of the season.
Starting on the bench against Liverpool, Malo was introduced in the second half for Blues skipper Reece James in what ended as a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
‘I was proud to make my debut in a match like the Liverpool one,’ Gusto would later reflect on his maiden outing in blue.
‘It was a pleasure. Honestly, in the moment, I didn’t really think about it as I was just focused on giving my all for the team.'
Double assist
In our next home game, against Luton Town, Gusto showcased his attacking capabilities by setting up two of our goals in the 3-0 win.
One low cross converted by Raheem Sterling signalled the quality of delivery from wide positions, and he finished his first campaign at the Bridge with an impressive nine assists.
Star performer against Palace
Gusto picked up his maiden Player of the Match prize in a Chelsea shirt after an outstanding display – defensively and offensively - against Crystal Palace in December 2023.
The highlight was the way he skilfully began the move for the opener on the right flank, before concluding it with an assist for goalscorer Mykhailo Mudryk on the opposite wing. It set the Blues up for a derby victory in SW6.
Taste of silverware
Gusto started the League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final defeats at Wembley in 2024, and did likewise in Wroclaw as we contested the Conference League showpiece earlier this year.
A stirring second-half comeback ensured that for the first time in his fledgling senior career, Gusto had his hands on silverware.
It was a feeling he would enjoy again soon afterwards…
Dominating PSG
Gusto featured in all of our Club World Cup games and starred in the final against Paris Saint-Germain, who were fresh from winning Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Gusto’s foraging runs down the right caused the team from his homeland plenty of problems, and from one such advance he had a shot blocked before teeing up Cole Palmer to open the scoring.
It was his biggest goal contribution yet and played a big part in our global triumph.
Breaking his duck – at last!
What was missing from Gusto's Chelsea back catalogue was a goal. It was not for the want of trying, but his efforts were often blocked, saved, or tested the crowd in the Shed Upper!
However, that all changed in the season just finished. Gusto’s role at times inverting from right-back meant he regularly found himself in an advanced central role and it was from that position that he drifted into the six-yard box and nodded Alejandro Garnacho’s cross home to open the scoring against Wolves back in November.
It had taken 98 games, but Gusto had his first Chelsea goal!
Like London buses...
You wait over two years for a goal and then another follows just a month later! This time Gusto struck in the 2-0 home win against Everton, having already assisted Cole Palmer's opener.
Pedro Neto's centre picked him out and he calmly steered the ball past Jordan Pickford on his left. It was no surprise he picked up the Player of the Match award, too.
Homeland joy
A third goal of the campaign arrived in his native France, when he found space inside the box, collected Enzo Fernandez's pass and fired a shot into the net to draw us level against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of our last-16 Champions League tie.
Unfortunately the game unravelled for Chelsea in the closing stages, but Gusto's goal on a big stage in his home country will always be a special moment.