Display omitted •GF@CNT@MoS2 hybrid foam was synthesized for flexible anode of lithium-ion battery.•Rational structural design offers several merits for lithium storage.•The negligible resistance change allows it to be used in flexible battery.•The flexible GF@CNT@MoS2 electrode showed excellent electrochemical performance. A three-dimensional (3D) flexible hybrid foam composed of graphene foam@carbon nanotubes decorated with MoS2 nanoparticles is synthesized for flexible anode applications in lithium-ion battery. The inner layer of graphene foam (GF), serving as a 3D skeleton of the hybrid foam, enlarges the electrode/electrolyte contact, shortens the diffusion distance of Li+ ions and provides enough internal void space to accommodate the large volume change of MoS2 nanoparticles. The middle carbon nanotubes (CNT) layer wrapped on the graphene foam is more conductive to facilitate electron/ion transport within the hybrid foam and can further enhance the flexibility of the hybrid foam. The outer layer of active MoS2 nanoparticles can provide high specific capacity. Owing to these advantages, the flexible GF@CNT@MoS2 electrodes delivers a specific capacity of 935 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, high reversible capacity of 606 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1.