Historic moment! “Erawan Garnier” rises as the first Thai footballer to play in France's "Ligue 1."
This is great news for Thai football as "Erawan Garnier," a 20-year-old Thai-French rising winger, made his debut for Lens in France's Ligue 1 during their away 1-2 loss to Lorient last night. This milestone makes him the first Thai player in history to appear in the top French league.
Erawan was named as a substitute and came on in the 83rd minute, replacing Saudi Arabian international right-back Saud Abdulhamid. Although he played only 14 minutes, it was a memorable period with 13 ball touches, opportunities to dribble and create attacks, passes, crosses, and tackles. He clearly gave his best every minute on the pitch.
Erawan Garnier was born on 5 January 2006 in Écully near Lyon. He is of mixed Thai-French heritage, with a French father and Thai mother. He grew up in Olympique Lyon's academy from age 13, progressing through the U17, U19, and U21 teams before advancing to the reserve squad in 2024.
In October 2025, Erawan transferred from Lyon to Lens on a contract through 2027. Jean-Louis Leca, Lens's sporting director, praised him as a highly talented young player full of skill and energy who plays well within the team. Finally, he earned his chance to play in Ligue 1.
Pathway to the Thai national team
Previously, Erawan was named a training partner for Thailand's U20 team under the management of Buriram United staff in March 2024 but was soon called up directly to the U23 squad vying for an Olympic Games spot.
He represented Thailand U23 in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in April 2024, playing all three group matches and assisting the goal that gave Thailand a 2-0 lead against Iraq in the opening game. Although the team did not advance, this exposure made him a household name nationwide overnight.
Erawan is known for his speed, close ball control, and ability to break through defenses. He is versatile, capable of playing multiple positions including center-back, full-back on both sides, and both wings. It will be exciting to watch how far he develops in the football world. This debut marks a great beginning, and Thai fans will surely support him wholeheartedly, as he is, after all, a "Thai national footballer."