The ten greatest France soccer gamers ever

The soccer legacy of France is certainly one of 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 secure to say that this France crew definitely is aware of the way to 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 listing of who we consider are the ten best French footballers, based mostly on their general affect at both membership or worldwide stage throughout their careers…

All stats appropriate as of 14th June 2024.

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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 most interesting golf equipment in addition to the French nationwide crew.

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

He was additionally a key member of the French nationwide crew, 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 you could really feel that Kylian Mbappé deserves to be larger up this listing, 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 targets to his identify in simply 79 appearances. And he is much more deadly at membership stage for Paris Saint-Germain, having bagged 256 targets 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 bought 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 Participant of the Season awards he is acquired in France.

8

Olivier Giroud

2005-present

Olivier Giroud is a reputation that many could not have anticipated to be on this listing, 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 once 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 targets 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 targets 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 taking part in at centre-back and right-back.

All through his taking part in 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 crew win a number of Serie A titles.

With 142 caps, he’s the second-most-capped participant within the French crew’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 targets he ever scored for his nation got here within the World Cup semi-final towards Croatia, which helped seal France’s place within the remaining.

6

Simply Fontaine

1950-1960

Simply Fontaine is considered 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 plenty of targets for membership and nation, displaying his exceptional tempo, cleverness and of entirety.

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

This unimaginable accomplishment, which included a hat-trick in his World Cup debut and a four-goal exhibiting towards 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 remaining.

Regardless that Fontaine’s harm ended his profession on the age of 28, he had a major affect on the sport. With 30 targets in 21 video games for the French nationwide crew, he retired with an excellent scoring file.

5

Patrick Vieira

1993-2011

Patrick Vieira is considered among the finest midfielders of his technology. Throughout his taking part in profession, Vieira stood out because of his excellent defensive and attacking performances, in addition to his capability to regulate the midfield.

The Frenchman’s membership profession took off at Arsenal, the place he contributed considerably to his facet’s accomplishments beneath supervisor Arsène Wenger. His arrival in 1996 had an immediate and vital affect on the crew, 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 essential member of the French nationwide crew, profitable 107 caps and serving to the crew 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 skills 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 remaining 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 targets 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 greatest end previous to profitable the competitors in 1998. Enjoying with one other man on the listing, Simply Fontaine, on the event, Kopa’s exploits earned him the Ballon d’Or that yr, establishing himself as Europe’s most interesting participant.

3

Michel Platini

1972-1988

Michel Platini is a legendary soccer participant recognized for his wonderful goalscoring capability, modern playmaking and unimaginable 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 exceptional worldwide profession with Les Bleus. He was the event’s high scorer and greatest participant on the European Championship in 1984 to assist France win the event, scoring a file 9 targets in a single event.

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

2

Thierry Henry

1994-2012

Nobody can dispute that Thierry Henry is without doubt one of the most legendary forwards in soccer historical past.

Henry’s Premier League profession at Arsenal took off, and he went on to grow to be the crew’s all-time high scorer with 228 targets in all competitions. He performed a significant position in Arsenal’s Invincibles season of 2003/04, in addition to profitable two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, and 4 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 targets 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 through 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 taking part in profession, Zidane stood out for golf equipment like Juventus and Actual Madrid, in addition to the French nationwide crew, because of his ability with the ball, imaginative and prescient and distinctive capability to attain essential targets.

Zidane made a reputation for himself as among the finest midfielders on the planet at Juventus, profitable two Serie A titles in Turin. His well-known volleyed objective within the 2002 Champions League remaining, 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 status as a nationwide hero was solidified together with his two headers towards Brazil within the 1998 World Cup remaining. Regardless of the controversy of his pink card within the World Cup remaining of 2006, Zidane’s contributions to the game as a complete are usually not overshadowed.