Pirès' Jubilee at Metz: Jessica Houara Among Rare Women on the Pitch

Robert Pirès celebrates his jubilee at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Metz on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, more than twenty years after his glory days in the maroon jersey. Nearly a hundred former teammates, coaches and close associates answered the call to honor the former France winger, winner of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

The evening will be divided into three 30-minute periods, during which Pirès will successively play for FC Metz Légendes, the Pirès All-Stars and Arsenal Légendes. On the sidelines, Aimé Jacquet and Arsène Wenger will manage the teams, alongside Joël Muller and Philippe Hinschberger. The roster of players is equally impressive: Thierry Henry, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Youri Djorkaeff, Bixente Lizarazu, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor are among the participants.

Despite the scale of the gathering, female representation on the pitch will be limited to two players. Jessica Houara, a former French international with 79 caps, and Marine Morel, head of the women’s section development at FC Metz, will be the only women to take to the field. The absence of Laure Boulleau, another figure in French women’s football, is notable.

The connection between Houara and Pirès goes beyond football itself: both now work as consultants on the same channel, where they have shared many broadcasts and analysis over the years.

Beyond the sporting celebration, enhanced by a light show and fireworks, the event will support two charitable causes: the Institute of Myology and the Moselle-based association L’Exceptionnelle Mia.