Max-Alain Gradel is the captain of the Ivory Coast team for CAN 2024. The 36-year-old started the tournament without starting.
Gradel became a starter in the round of 16, under the leadership of Emerse Faé, after the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset. “He helps balance the team in collective work, he knows how to keep the ball, he is reliable, hard worker and always thinking of the team before himself,” summarized Patrice Beaumelle, Ivory Coast coach from 2020 to 2022.