Bradley Barcola may wear No. 12 for France, but the number that still defines him is 29. The PSG forward has kept that shirt from his Lyon days, and the reason goes back to a fictional football hero from FIFA.
At a time when he is expected to provide depth behind Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise and possibly Rayan Cherki, Barcola remains strongly attached to the number he has carried for years. According to www.linternaute.com, the story behind it is far more unusual than a simple squad preference.
A number tied to Alex Hunter
Barcola’s attachment to 29 comes from Alex Hunter, the fictional protagonist of the “The Journey” story mode that first appeared in FIFA 17. He grew up playing FIFA and identified with the character, who wore the same number.
“When I was younger, I played FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me,” Barcola explained. That early connection turned a video game detail into a personal marker that followed him into his professional career.
A promise he made before becoming a pro
Long before joining Paris Saint-Germain, Barcola made a private promise about his shirt number. “I told myself: the day I turn pro, it will be number 29. And there it is. I adopted it and I will never let it go,” he said.
That kind of personal attachment is not unique in football. Antoine Griezmann has worn No. 7 in tribute to his idol David Beckham, and Barcola’s case shows how a digital character can leave a lasting mark on a player’s identity.
For now, France will list him under a different shirt number, but 29 remains the one that best tells Barcola’s story. It is a number shaped by a game, a promise, and a choice he has never wanted to give up.
