Claude Makelele, the former Chelsea and France midfielder, has been appointed as a judge for the Miss Universe 2025 beauty pageant. The 52-year-old will join the selection committee in Thailand, where the winner will be crowned on November 21 at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret.
Makelele is best known for his five-year stint at Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles and an FA Cup. His defensive midfield role became so iconic that it coined the phrase 'the Makelele role'. He also earned 71 caps for France and later played for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2011.
Since hanging up his boots, Makelele has held several coaching roles, including a brief spell at Greek club Asteras Tripolis, which he left after three weeks due to board interference. He also worked as a youth coach at Chelsea and managed Bastia and Eupen, but never achieved lasting success in management.
The reigning Miss Universe is Denmark's Victoria Theilvig, who will pass on her crown after a year of perks including a £190,000 salary, luxury accommodation, and a New York City apartment. Previous guest judges have included Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and supermodel Adriana Lima.
Makelele's appointment comes as a surprise to many football fans, but organisers hope his talent-spotting skills will ensure the right winner is chosen. The event in Thailand promises to be a well-structured ceremony with the former midfielder on the panel.
