The 10 best France football players ever

The soccer legacy of France is one in all brilliance, inventiveness, and success. These particular French gamers who’ve reworked into World Cup heroes and Ballon d’Or winners have personified the spirit of French soccer.

It is protected to say that this France group definitely is aware of how one can win, which is backed up by the truth that they’ve received two World Cups and two European Championships.

With that, right here is the record of who we imagine are the ten best French footballers, based mostly on their total influence at both membership or worldwide stage throughout their careers…

All stats right as of 14th June 2024.

10

Marcel Desailly

1986-2006

Marcel Desailly is well-known for his power, agility and power on the pitch. The Frenchman’s profession is distinguished by notable accomplishments and contributions to a few of Europe’s best golf equipment in addition to the French nationwide group.

The defender received two Champions Leagues in 1993 and 1994, turning into one in all simply 4 gamers to win back-to-back European Cups with totally different groups. He additionally received Serie A titles whereas at Milan and likewise received the FA Cup in 2000 with Chelsea.

He was additionally a key member of the French nationwide group, profitable 116 caps and contributing considerably to the nation’s triumphs at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup.

9

Kylian Mbappé

2015-present

A few of it’s possible you’ll really feel that Kylian Mbappé deserves to be increased up this record, however let’s not neglect that he is simply 25 years of age with a big a part of his profession nonetheless forward of him.

The Frenchman already has an excellent file on the worldwide stage, with 47 objectives to his identify in simply 79 appearances. And he is much more deadly at membership stage for Paris Saint-Germain, having bagged 256 objectives in 308 video games. Who is aware of what number of he’ll bag for Actual Madrid subsequent season and past…

His achievements at such a younger age are astounding. He is already obtained a World Cup and UEFA Nations League medal to his identify internationally, in addition to 14 home trophies. That is not together with the seven Player of the Season awards he is obtained in France.

8

Olivier Giroud

2005-present

Olivier Giroud is a reputation that many might not have anticipated to be on this record, however that is just because he is massively underrated.

The 37-year-old is France’s file goalscorer with 57, which is a sensational achievement whenever you consider all of the greats to have pulled on the blue jersey. He helped Les Bleus raise the World Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and even grabbed 4 objectives in the newest World Cup.

At membership stage, he managed to raise the Champions League again within the 2020/21 season with Chelsea. His profession tally sits at 283 objectives and 101 assists in 708 video games, which incorporates stints at present membership AC Milan and Arsenal.

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7

Lilian Thuram

1991-2008

Lilian Thuram is recognised by many as among the finest defenders in soccer historical past. His profession is notable for its extraordinary longevity and accomplishments at membership and worldwide stage, when he demonstrated his versatility by enjoying at centre-back and right-back.

All through his enjoying profession, Thuram represented Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona. He had nice success throughout his tenure at Parma, the place he received the 1999 UEFA Cup. The Frenchman additionally established himself as a world-class defender at Juventus by serving to the group win a number of Serie A titles.

With 142 caps, he’s the second-most-capped participant within the French group’s historical past. Thuram demonstrated his management qualities, defensive ability and capability to step as much as the plate when it mattered most throughout France’s victories at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup. Notably, the one two objectives he ever scored for his nation got here within the World Cup semi-final in opposition to Croatia, which helped seal France’s place within the last.

6

Simply Fontaine

1950-1960

Simply Fontaine is thought to be one of many best attackers in soccer historical past and has a particular place in World Cup historical past. Regardless of having a short profession owing to accidents, Fontaine scored numerous objectives for membership and nation, displaying his outstanding tempo, cleverness and of entirety.

Through the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, Fontaine’s most illustrious accomplishment was setting a record of scoring 13 objectives in a single event, which is a file that also stays at the moment.

This unbelievable accomplishment, which included a hat-trick in his World Cup debut and a four-goal displaying in opposition to West Germany within the third-place play-off, launched him to world prominence and solidified his place as a World Cup legend.

Highlights of Fontaine’s profession at membership stage embrace profitable seasons with Good and Reims. He was a significant factor in Reims’ home and European accomplishments, profitable a number of French league titles and reaching the inaugural European Cup last.

Despite the fact that Fontaine’s damage ended his profession on the age of 28, he had a big influence on the sport. With 30 objectives in 21 video games for the French nationwide group, he retired with an excellent scoring file.

5

Patrick Vieira

1993-2011

Patrick Vieira is thought to be among the finest midfielders of his technology. Throughout his enjoying profession, Vieira stood out because of his excellent defensive and attacking performances, in addition to his skill to manage the midfield.

The Frenchman’s membership profession took off at Arsenal, the place he contributed considerably to his aspect’s accomplishments beneath supervisor Arsène Wenger. His arrival in 1996 had an prompt and vital influence on the group, as he helped Arsenal win 4 FA Cups and three Premier League crowns, which included captaining the Invincibles in 2003/04.

Following his unforgettable time at Arsenal, Vieira went on to play for Juventus, Inter and Manchester Metropolis. He added extra trophies to his assortment throughout this time, profitable an FA Cup with Metropolis and a number of other Serie A titles with Inter earlier than retiring in 2011.

Vieira was additionally an vital member of the French nationwide group, profitable 107 caps and serving to the group win Euro 2000 and the World Cup in 1998.

4

Raymond Kopa

1949-1967

Raymond Kopa was a legendary French soccer participant famend for his distinctive dribbling expertise, playmaking abilities and imaginative and prescient.

Actual Madrid and Reims are most famously linked to Kopa’s membership profession. He was instrumental in Reims’ 1956 run to the European Cup last and their home victories.

Actual Madrid have been drawn to his expertise, and he ended up being a key member of Madrid’s 1957 La Liga-winning squad and went on to win three straight European Cups from 1957 to 1959.

He received 45 caps and bagged 18 objectives on the worldwide stage. His contribution to France’s 1958 FIFA World Cup voyage to the semi-finals was pivotal, and it ended up being their finest end previous to profitable the competitors in 1998. Taking part in with one other man on the record, Simply Fontaine, on the event, Kopa’s exploits earned him the Ballon d’Or that yr, establishing himself as Europe’s best participant.

3

Michel Platini

1972-1988

Michel Platini is a legendary soccer participant identified for his superb goalscoring skill, progressive playmaking and unbelievable ability as a midfielder. Platini had a profitable membership profession, the place he received a number of titles with Juventus in Italy, together with the European Cup, the Coppa Italia, and Serie A. He additionally loved success with AS Nancy and Saint-Étienne in France.

Platini had an equally outstanding worldwide profession with Les Bleus. He was the event’s prime scorer and finest participant on the European Championship in 1984 to assist France win the event, scoring a record nine goals in a single tournament.

His contributions within the 1982 and 1986 World Cups noticed France advance to the semi-finals in each competitions, firmly establishing his fame as one of many all-time nice French gamers, with 41 objectives in complete in his 72 caps.

2

Thierry Henry

1994-2012

Nobody can dispute that Thierry Henry is likely one of the most legendary forwards in soccer historical past.

Henry’s Premier League profession at Arsenal took off, and he went on to develop into the group’s all-time prime scorer with 228 objectives in all competitions. He performed a serious function in Arsenal’s Invincibles season of 2003/04, in addition to profitable two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, and four Premier League Golden Boots. After his triumph in England, he relocated to Barcelona, the place he received two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, and the Champions League in 2009.

There is not any doubting that he performed with distinction for France at worldwide stage, notching 51 objectives and accumulating 123 caps. His contributions to France’s victories at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup helped him lay the foundations for his legacy, regardless of the controversy in the course of the 2010 World Cup marketing campaign that tainted his latter years.

1

Zinedine Zidane

1989-2006

Probably the most recognisable gamers in soccer is Zinedine Zidane. All through his enjoying profession, Zidane stood out for golf equipment like Juventus and Actual Madrid, in addition to the French nationwide group, because of his ability with the ball, imaginative and prescient and distinctive skill to attain vital objectives.

Zidane made a reputation for himself as among the finest midfielders on the earth at Juventus, profitable two Serie A titles in Turin. His well-known volleyed purpose within the 2002 Champions League last, which secured the trophy for Actual Madrid, was the head of his time within the Spanish capital. His tenure at Madrid additionally noticed him win the Intercontinental Cup and La Liga, which he additionally led Los Blancos to as supervisor.

His expertise was essential to France’s success at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup, rising as a key participant in each competitions. His fame as a nationwide hero was solidified along with his two headers in opposition to Brazil within the 1998 World Cup last. Regardless of the controversy of his crimson card within the World Cup last of 2006, Zidane’s contributions to the game as an entire aren’t overshadowed.