French superfan Clément Tomaszewski, known as "Clément d'Antibes", is embarking on his final World Cup journey at the 2026 edition, having lived through 10 tournaments and followed the France national team in the stands since his first appearance at the 1982 World Cup in Bilbao.
The 78-year-old attended the 2026 World Cup in his tenth appearance at the tournament. The Athletic, through journalist Charlotte Harber, reported that this edition will be his last, after his name became synonymous with the French national team and his famous rooster "Balthazar" over many long years.
Clément's World Cup story began on 16 June 1982, when he watched France play England in Bilbao, before his journey became a permanent tradition. He has accompanied the French team in 305 matches, travelled to 45 countries across 4 continents, spent the equivalent of 19 full days inside stadiums, and spent around 10 months away from his home in Antibes.
Clément rose to global fame at the 1998 World Cup, when he smuggled a small rooster under his shirt during France's semi-final against Croatia, before appearing with his son Christophe and the rooster "Balthazar" on the stadium screen following France's title-winning 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.
The French fan has kept the name "Balthazar" for every rooster he has brought or bought during his travels, as a tribute to his late friend Balthazar Recommendato. The number of roosters bearing that name has reached 35, as he made a habit of buying a new one in certain countries he visited to support the French team, including South Korea, South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar.
The story is also tied to a particular family background: Clément was born in Algeria in 1948 to a Polish father and a Spanish mother. His father served 36 years in a unit of the French Army before buying a small farm near Bergerac, where bringing a rooster into stadiums was a local tradition and a symbol of French sport and good luck.
Clément revealed that he has spent around 90,000 euros on his travels following the French national team across various tournaments. He has made a point of attending the team's matches for decades, and holds special memories with his family — from the 1998 World Cup title with his son, to Euro 2000 with his wife Eliette, and the 2006 World Cup final with his daughter Fabienne.
The French fan received special recognition during the 2026 World Cup, after FIFA invited him to the official VIP box, where he met FIFA President Gianni Infantino and received commemorative gifts and autographs on his shirt.
"Balthazar" was absent from some recent trips due to the difficulty of bringing him into stadiums under modern regulations, and it was also unclear whether Clément had brought his rooster along on his current trip, having grown accustomed to buying a rooster bearing the same name during his travels to support the French team around the world.