MyMemeCards editorial team
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “I recup the ball” is a rare card of the Memes FR pack, number 1034 of the collection, and the 567th best-known meme of its 977 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “I recup the ball” meme mean?
The meme celebrates the courage of answering without the words. People quote it to mock their own English, to comment on a sentence bolted together from a French verb conjugated the English way, or to salute someone who tried the conversation instead of staying silent. The tone is not contemptuous: the line is loved because it works — everyone understands exactly what the player means. It is a trophy for Franglais that does its job.
Where does the “I recup the ball” meme come from?
In September 2018 Olympique Lyonnais travelled to Manchester City for the Champions League group stage and won the match. In the interview area Nabil Fekir, Lyon’s attacking midfielder and a world champion a few weeks earlier, answered an English-speaking outlet and described winning the ball back with an “I recup the ball” built on the French verb récupérer. The clip was picked up immediately on French-speaking social networks, where it became the reference for footballers’ Franglais, alongside interviews of the same kind. The phrase outlived the match: it now captions any approximate English sentence. It is still quoted by people with no memory of the scoreline, purely for the verb.
- September 2018Manchester City–Lyon in the Champions League: Nabil Fekir answers in English after the Lyon win.
How to use the “I recup the ball” meme
- Mock your own English after answering anyway.
- Comment on a French verb conjugated the English way in a real conversation.
- Salute someone who attempted the exchange instead of staying silent.
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The “I recup the ball” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 1034 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes FR pack |
| Fame | 58/100 · #567 of 977 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
| Suggested by | @pixel97683 |
How to get the “I recup the ball” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; I recup the ball comes out of the Memes FR pack as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art 0.8%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “I recup the ball”
More cards of the Memes FR pack
Frequently asked questions
Who said i recup the ball?
Nabil Fekir, in a post-match interview, after Manchester City–Lyon in 2018.
What does it mean?
“I won the ball back”: the player conjugates the French verb récupérer as if it were English.
Why did it become a meme?
Because the sentence is understood by everyone despite its construction, which makes it the friendly emblem of Franglais.
How do I get the I recup the ball meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “I recup the ball” is a rare card of the Memes FR pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the I recup the ball card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: L’interview d’après-match (YouTube) · checked on October 5, 2026.
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Want I recup the ball in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.