Hugo Picard

Hugo Picard
Picard with Columbus Crew in 2026
Personal information
Full name Hugo Fabrice Thierry Picard
Date of birth (2003-05-09) 9 May 2003 (age 23)
Place of birth Cholet, France
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Troyes
(on loan from Columbus Crew)
Number 22
Youth career
2014–2015 Lorgeron-Torfou
2015–2019 Nantes
2019–2021 Guingamp
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Guingamp II 15 (1)
2022–2025 Guingamp 92 (8)
2025– Columbus Crew 26 (2)
2026– → Troyes (loan) 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 September 2026

Hugo Fabrice Thierry Picard (born 9 May 2003) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for Ligue 1 club Troyes on loan from Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.

Club career

Picard with Columbus Crew in 2026

Picard began playing football with his local club Lorgeron-Torfou and was scouted as a U11 by Nantes. After being released by Nantes partly due to his slight build,

Guingamp

He moved to the youth academy of Guingamp in 2019, where he continued his development. He made his professional debut with Guingamp as a late substitute in a 4–0 Ligue 2 loss to Annecy on 8 October 2022. On 3 January 2023, he signed his first professional contract with the club until June 2026. Picard scored his first goal for Guingamp on 4 March 2023, during a league match against Paris FC. Starting the game, he opened the scoring with a curling shot into the top corner, helping his team secure the win. On 10 January 2025, he had three assists in a 4–1 victory against Annecy.

Columbus Crew

On 14 July 2025, Picard transferred to the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, signing a contract until 2028, with a one-year extension for 2029. He scored his first two goals for Columbus in a U.S. Open Cup victory versus USL League One club Richmond Kickers on 15 April 2026. He scored a further two goals in the following round of the U.S. Open Cup, against another USL League One club in One Knoxville SC. His second goal was the match winner, as he helped Columbus advance to their first quarterfinal berth since 2010. On 16 May, he scored his first league goal for Columbus. Following a free kick, the ball was deflected off an attempted clearance and fell to Picard, who controlled it outside of the box, before striking a powerful shot into the top-right corner of the net.

Loan to Troyes

On 17 August 2026, Picard joined Ligue 1 club Troyes with an option to buy.

Style of play

A diminutive, right-footed player, Hugo Picard has primarily been deployed on the left flank at the professional level, a role that allows him to drift inside and operate in more central areas, where he functions more as a creator than a finisher. While progressing through the youth ranks, he primarily played as a central midfielder. Described as an "inspired dribbler and committed player," he has received praise for his creativity, energy, and tactical intelligence. Picard has described himself as a "false winger", preferring to move into central spaces rather than remain wide on the touchline.

Personal life

Picard states Lionel Messi as his idol.

References

  1. ↑ POUPIN, Jules (19 September 2023). "Ex-FC Nantes. Hugo Picard une nouvelle fois décisif avec l'EA Guingamp". Tribune Nantaise (in French). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "En Avant Guingamp. Hugo Picard : " En ce moment, j'aime bien ma vie "". Le Telegramme. 25 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Mindu, Antoine (2 July 2019). "U17 | Hugo Picard s'engage avec l'EAG". En Avant Guingamp (in French). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "En Avant Guingamp : Hugo Picard, le jeune espoir qui monte". actu.fr.
  5. ↑ Mindu, Antoine (3 January 2023). "Hugo Picard signe son contrat professionnel". En Avant Guingamp (in French). Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "2022-2023 Hugo Picard Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  7. ↑ LE LAY, Clément (4 March 2023). "Ligue 2. EA Guingamp se fait peur sur la pelouse du Paris FC mais décroche la victoire". Ouest-France. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Victoire nette et sans bavure à Annecy (1-4)". En Avant Guingamp (in French). 10 January 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 Mindu, Antoine (14 July 2025). "Hugo Picard transféré à Columbus Crew". En Avant Guingamp (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Columbus Crew acquire midfielder Hugo Picard from En Avant Guingamp". ColumbusCrew.com. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Mac Kay, Brianna. "Columbus Crew rely on young players in U.S. Open Cup win vs Richmond Kickers". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "2026 Media Guide – Columbus Crew" (PDF). Columbus Crew. Major League Soccer. 2026. p. 103. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Union draw Columbus Crew in home finale before summer break". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Gabriel, Kerith (16 May 2026). "Early mistakes force the Union to settle for a point once more, this time against the Columbus Crew". Inquirer.com. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Columbus Crew loan midfielder Hugo Picard to Ligue 1 side ES Troyes AC | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hugo Picard est Bleu & Blanc !". ESTAC (in French). 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Interview. En Avant Guingamp. Hugo Picard : « Je ne suis plus le petit jeune qui découvre la Ligue 2 »". actu.fr (in French). 10 August 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Koualef, Alvin (5 May 2024). "Hugo Picard, futur patron de l'attaque guingampaise ?". ouest-france.fr. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Hugo Picard : « J'espère que les numéros 10 perdureront »". SOFOOT.com (in French). 29 October 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2025.