Four years ago, that description matched Franck Ribery prior to the World Cup in Germany. This time, Mathieu Valbuena is the player being thrust into the limelight at next month's finals in South Africa.
Then plying his trade at Marseille, Ribery had only three substitute appearances in warm-up games on his CV when he was announced in France's 2006 World Cup squad.
Now 27 and at Bayern Munich, he has matured into one of France's most popular players and is regarded as one of few reasons why the former world and European champions might shine in South Africa.
"He's an inspiration for me," Valbuena, one of two uncapped outfield players in coach Raymond Domenech's provisional 24-man squad, said of Ribery.
"Franckie was at Marseillle in 2006 and was called up for the World Cup. His run is one you can only want to follow, even if I don't like comparisons too much," the 25-year-old winger told reporters at France's training camp in the Alpine resort of Tignes.
They failed, however, and Valbuena stayed, turning things around in spectacular fashion to play a prominent role in Marseille's run to their first Ligue 1 title in 18 years.
"Football is so fragile and my situation was so complicated that I even considered leaving Marseille but then there was that exceptional season and now this France call-up, which is the icing on the cake," he said.
"I'm very humble but very determined," he said. "I'm here to show what I can do, to work and improve. I'm ambitious."
