International Eagles: First of a kind

Club

26 Jun 2025

Palace’s first summer signing Walter Benítez will bring international experience when arriving in South London next week.

Benítez will officially become a Crystal Palace player on 1st July following the conclusion of his contract with PSV Eindhoven.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper achieved a career highlight last year when winning his first cap for Argentina – the current World Cup holders who also sit top of the FIFA world rankings.

This means Benítez will be the very first full Argentina international to represent the Eagles. Of course, he will follow in the footsteps of legendary Palace keeper Julián Speroni, another Argentinian, who represented his country at under-20 level.

To celebrate Benítez's arrival, let’s take a look at some of Palace’s another first senior representatives from each country across the top ten current FIFA rankings.

Argentina

Walter Benítez

As stated, Benítez will be the first active Palace player to have a senior cap for current World No. 1 nation, Argentina.

It was a long time coming for the shot stopper, who had first represented his country at youth level for the under-20 side back in 2013.

After he was first selected for the senior squad in 2023, a debut followed in March 2024, with Benítez completing the full 90 minutes of a 3-1 win over Costa Rica.

Spain

Palace are still awaiting the first Spanish player to have a senior cap during their time at the club.

However, former Eagles midfielder José Campaña came close, playing for under-21 side during his time at Selhurst Park.

Campaña would also eventually be capped at senior level by La Roja, although that was six years after departing South London in 2020, when he featured in a 0-0 draw with Portugal.

In addition, Pablo Couñago, who spent the 2010/11 season on-loan at Selhurst Park, featured for Spain at every youth level from under-16s through to under-21s.

France

Yohan Cabaye

Although he was far from the original Frenchman to pull on the red and blue, Cabaye’s arrival in 2016 ensured he was the first Palace player to have already been capped by France at senior level.

The midfield maestro had earned his maiden cap in a friendly against Norway back in August 2010. A first international goal followed at Euro 2012, in a 2-0 victory over Ukraine.

Cabaye would go onto to play a key role for the French team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, starting four of their five matches.

The Eagles have subsequently had a number of France internationals at Selhurst Park, including Mathieu Flamini, Steve Mandanda and Michael Olise.

England

Horace Colclough

A number of Palace players have pulled on the shirt of the Three Lions down the years, but the first in the club’s professional-era came way back in 1914.

Left-back Horace Colclough won his sole England cap in a British Home Championships international victory away to Wales, at Cardiff’s Ninian Park.

Before our professional era, Palace alumni Charles Chenery also lined-up for the Three Lions in the first recognised international football match, England facing Scotland in November 1872.

From our current squad, Ebere Eze, Marc Guéhi, Dean Henderson, Adam Wharton and Tyrick Mitchell have all earned senior caps.

Brazil

Diego Cavalieri

Five Brazilians have brought samba flair to South London down the years, with one already capped by the senior national team.

Goalkeeper Cavalieri was signed by the Eagles in the second half of the 2017/18 season on a short-term contract.

Although his stay was brief, he became the first full Brazilian international on Palace’s books, having earned three caps between 2012 and 2013 and was in the 2013 Confederations Cup-winning squad.

In terms of current players, Matheus França has represented Brazil at both under-16 and under-20 level. A senior cap would see him become the first Brazilian to appear for his nation while with Palace.

Netherlands

Edgar Davids

The Dutch legend’s surprise move to SE25 towards the end of his incredible career ensured him a place in Palace history.

Davids was the first Eagles player to have represented the Netherlands at senior international level, winning 74 caps and playing in three major tournaments.

Since Davids, two more Oranje players have turned out for Palace. On-loan defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah earned his first cap for the Netherlands only weeks after signing for the Eagles.

Dutch full-back Patrick Van Aanholt was a full international when he signed in January 2017 and to date has won a total of 19 caps.

Portugal

Along with Spain, Portugal is the only other country from the current top 10 in the world rankings to have not provided Palace with a full international.

However, two Portuguese ex-Eagles do have national team links. Former Palace defender José Fonte would later be capped at senior level, four years after departing the club.

Only a month shy of his 31st birthday, Fonte won his first cap in a friendly victory over Argentina at Old Trafford. The highlight of his international career would come in 2016, playing every minute of the knockout stages

His younger brother Rui Fonte, who spent the end of the 2008/09 season in South London on-loan from Arsenal, featured 22 times for Portugal under-21s but did not win a senior cap.

Belgium

Christian Benteke

When signing from Liverpool for a club-record transfer fee in 2016, Benteke became the first Belgian international to play for the Eagles.

His senior debut for the Red Devils came in May 2010 against Bulgaria, with a first international goal coming in a 4-2 friendly win over Netherlands two years later.

Famously, Palace’s first ever overseas player was Belgian – Marcel Gaillard. However, he was never capped at senior level. Gaillard also became the club’s first ever overseas scorer when netting in a 5-0 demolition of Watford in February 1948.

Italy

Attilio Lombardo

One of Palace’s most stunning transfer captures – who would eventually become player-manager at Selhurst Park – Lombardo arrived with a wealth of experience when signing in 1997.

“The Bald Eagle” had won Serie A titles, and numerous other honours, at both Sampdoria and Juventus.

He was also a full Italian international at senior level. His first cap arrived in 1990, Lombardo scoring on his debut in a 4-0 win over Cyprus in Limassol.

His former Juventus teammate – and fellow Italian – Michele Padovano arrived only a few months after Lombardo and was also capped by the senior team.

Germany

Marco Reich

Reich joined Palace in 2005 after an impressive season at Derby County. He would enjoy a memorable first year in South London that ensures he is still remembered fondly by the majority of Eagles supporters.

His finest hour came in October of that year, when scoring a volleyed winner at home to Liverpool to seal a 2-1 win and knock the then-UEFA Champions League holders out of the League Cup.

By signing, Reich became Palace’s maiden senior German international. He would win what would prove to be his only international cap against Colombia in February 1999.

Lining up alongside national team legends such as Olivier Khan, Lothar Matthaus and Andreas Moller, Reich played 78 minutes of the 3-3 draw in Miami before giving way to Lars Ricken.

Other 'first internationals' from the current squad

Three of our current squad have also achieved a small piece of Crystal Palace history, by becoming the first capped player from their respective countries to play for the Eagles.

Jefferson Lerma was first Colombian to play for Palace, when he arrived in South London in the summer of 2023. His first senior cap came in November 2017, as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to South Korea.

Of course, the midfielder has since been followed by international compatriot Daniel Muñoz.

Daichi Kamada’s arrival last year ensured he was the first Japan international to feature for the Eagles – having made his first appearance five years before in a 1-0 defeat against Colombia.

And finally, defender Chadi Riad was the first Moroccan international to play for Palace after signing just over 12 months ago.

After debuting for the Atlas Lions against Sierra Leone in January 2024, Riad scored his first international goal just a few months later in a 6-0 win over Congo.

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