Top 10 best French footballers of all time

France are one of the foremost countries which come up when we think of football. France have won the World Cup twice in 1998 and 2018, the European Championships twice in 1984 and 2000, the erstwhile Confederations Cup twice in 2001 and 2003 and the UEFA Nations League once in 2021. They have obviously had multiple great footballers and today we rank the best of the best.

10. Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram is widely recognised as one of France’s best defenders ever. Born in Guadeloupe, he rose to prominence in French football and became a cornerstone of their national team for a long period. He played for prestigious clubs such as Monaco, Parma, Juventus, and Barcelona, accumulating a substantial collection of domestic and international titles. Thuram’s most notable achievement was his role in France’s victories in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 UEFA European Championship. He holds the record for the most appearances for the French national team. His son’s Marcus and Khepren are also French internationals.

9. Didier Deschamps

Didier Deschamps has been one of the most important figures in French football, having had a distinguished career both as a player and a manager. As a defensive midfielder, he played for clubs like Marseille, Juventus, and Chelsea, and was the captain of the French national team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.
Deschamps’s managerial career has been equally successful. He has led France to numerous international tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which they won. It is safe to say that his legacy is watertight when it comes to French football.

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8. Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is one of the biggest stars in the footballing world at the moment. Rising to prominence at a young age, he quickly became a key figure for first Monaco then Paris Saint-Germain after a big money move. His performances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final, solidified his status as one of the best in French football. He also scored a hattrick in the 2022 World Cup final which went in vain. Mbappe has recently made his dream move to Real Madrid where he hopes to see even more success. Still only 25, Mbappe has a long way to go.

7. Laurent Blanc

Born in Lyon, Laurent Blanc began his professional career at Saint-Étienne before joining Montpellier. He later moved to Olympique de Marseille, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 1993. The defender also had successful stints at Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter Milan, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups. He represented France at three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships, being a crucial part of the team which was victorious in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. After retiring as a player, Blanc transitioned into coaching, managing Bordeaux, France, and Bayern Munich.

6. Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira was a midfield maestro who is remembered as one of the greatest to do it in the Premier League. Born in Senegal, Vieira’s footballing journey took him to France, where he honed his skills. However, it was at Arsenal that he truly made his mark, becoming a cornerstone of Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” team in the early 2000s as the captain of the side. Vieira’s commanding presence, powerful tackles, and ability to dictate the tempo of a game made him one of the most feared midfielders in Europe. After successful stints at Juventus and Inter Milan Vieira returned to the Premier League as a manager, taking charge of Nice and Crystal Palace.

5. Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona was renowned for his exceptional skills and fiery temperament. He became an iconic figure in English football during his time at Manchester United. He was as brilliant on the field as he was controversial off it. He once kicked a supporter during a game against Crystal Palace. The Frenchman was one of the first stars of the Premier League era but later fell out with Sir Alex Ferguson. But one thing is for sure, his legacy is one that remains unchallenged.

4. Just Fontaine

Just Fontaine was a legendary French footballer born in Morocco. He set a record at the 1958 FIFA World Cup by scoring an astonishing 13 goals in six matches. This feat remains an unparalleled achievement in the tournament’s history and stands unchallenged to this day. Interestingly the striker only played 21 times for the French national team, scoring a whopping 30 goals. Fontaine was named by Pele as one of the 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

3. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the Premier League. He enjoyed a highly successful career with clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona, and the French national team. He is the record holder for the most goals scored by a foreign player in the Premier League, having netted 175 goals during his eight-year spell at Arsenal. Henry won numerous trophies throughout his career, including two Premier League titles including one Invincible title, three FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona. After retiring as a player, Henry pursued a coaching career and is currently incharge of France U21.

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2. Michel Platini

Michel Platini is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. During his playing career, Platini represented clubs like Nancy and Saint-Étienne, and the French national team. He won the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times (1983, 1984, and 1985), a record at the time, and was a key member of the French national team that won the UEFA European Championship in 1984. Post his retirement, Platini went on to have a controversial stint as the president of UEFA.

1. Zinedine Zidane

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Zinedine Zidane was elegance personified. Zidane played for clubs such as Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid winning the Ballon D’or in 1998. He won the FIFA World Cup with France in 1998, scoring the winning goal in the final. He also won the UEFA Champions League twice with Real Madrid, including the iconic 2002 final where he scored a volley voted the greatest goal in the competition’s history. After retiring as a player, Zidane moved into management, winning 3 consecutive Champions Leagues and multiple La Liga titles with Real Madrid.

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