Malouda is usually used on the left wing by Lyon although he can also play as a striker. The 26-year-old was capped at Under-18 level by his country but didn't make his senior debut until November 2004 in the goalless draw with Poland. Malouda joined Chateauroux in 1996 but did make his first-team debut until the 1999-00 campaign. At the end of that season he moved to Guingamp and helped the modest side finish tenth in the league. He formed a useful partnership with Didier Drogba and eventually moved to Lyon in 2003 where he has been a regular in the first team ever since.