Lloris Dominates MLS at 39 with 12 Clean Sheets, Frustrates D.C. United

Hugo Lloris was the standout performer in Los Angeles FC’s goalless draw at D.C. United (0-0) over the weekend, producing two crucial saves that secured the California side’s point in Washington.

In the 49th minute, the former France captain made a reflex one-handed stop on a point-blank effort from Jackson Hopkins. Fifteen minutes later, he stretched perfectly to deny Louis Munteanu’s low drive, pushing it away with his right hand. Three saves in total, but two of such quality that he earned man-of-the-match honors in a contest where LAFC managed just one shot on target from 17 attempts.

These interventions are far more than a flash in the pan. Lloris now has 12 clean sheets in MLS league play in 2026, the best record across the entire league. In July, his teammate Ryan Porteous suggested the Frenchman deserved selection for the All-Star Game, praising his performances, his saves, and his influence on LAFC’s defensive organization.

His solidity is all the more valuable given the club’s concerning offensive drought: since the end of the Leagues Cup, Los Angeles has scored just one goal in their last four MLS matches. Lloris, meanwhile, continues to hold the fort at the other end of the pitch.

The question of a France return remains purely theoretical. The 39-year-old goalkeeper announced his international retirement in January 2023, after 145 caps and a final World Cup campaign as captain. Fabien Barthez, recently appointed goalkeeper coach in Zinédine Zidane’s staff, has not publicly mentioned his former successor. What these performances do confirm, however, is that at just weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Lloris remains one of the most effective goalkeepers on the American continent.