The streets of Paris and Marseille will always remember the excitement of 1998 when Zidane’s amazing skills helped France win their first FIFA World Cup at Stade de France. They also won’t forget the special moment at Parc des Princes in 1984, when a ten-man French team won their first UEFA Euro Trophy.
Best french footballers have not only shined for the national team but also made a big impact on European clubs. From Platini’s time at Juventus, Zidane’s brilliance at Real Madrid, to Thierry Henry’s legendary career at Arsenal, French players have shown their talent in world football for many years.
Let’s explore the top 10 greatest French footballers of all time, who have left a lasting impression on football and won the hearts of fans everywhere.
10. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira, a talented French midfielder, earned a spot in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004.
Patrick is known for his smart tactical play and excellent athletic and technical skills. He was part of France’s winning teams in the 1998 World Cup, the 2000 Euro, and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. In 2004, they included him in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living footballers.
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9. Laurent Blanc
Blanc got the nickname “Le President” when he first joined Marseille because he showed great leadership. His performance helped Marseille finish fourth in his first season. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he was a strong defender and very tough for opposing strikers to play against.
Laurent played 243 games for Montpellier and is their top all-time scorer with 83 goals in all competitions. Blanc won the 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and UEFA named him the tournament’s best player.
8. Kylian Mbappé
The 25-year-old French star is now seen as one of the best footballers in the world. Kylian Mbappé has shown his talent many times, especially when he scored two goals against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup Finals. He was a big problem for Argentina’s fans when he helped knock them out of the Round of 16 in the 2018 World Cup. In the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar, he amazed the world by scoring twice to tie the game after trailing, delaying Messi’s World Cup victory until the penalty shootout.
In 2017, PSG signed Mbappé from Monaco for a record-breaking transfer fee of 180 million USD, making him the most expensive teenager ever. With over 300 games, Mbappé became PSG’s all-time top scorer with 256 goals. A few weeks ago, the internet buzzed when Real Madrid announced they had signed Kylian Mbappé, ending a seven-year-long transfer saga.
7. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona, known for his roles in French films like Elizabeth and Jack Says, also captained the French national beach soccer team after retiring from professional football. He was called “King Cantona” by Manchester United fans and is considered one of the greatest players to have worn the Red Jersey at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson praised Cantona, saying, “He lit up Old Trafford. The place went wild every time he had the ball.” Cantona drew attention when he publicly supported England, his adopted football country, instead of France in the 2004 Euros and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, showing his frustration with his international football career.
6. Lilian Thuram
Thuram, a UNICEF ambassador and a strong supporter against racism, was the most-capped French footballer with 142 appearances until Hugo Lloris broke his record in 2018. Thuram started his professional career with Monaco, where he played 155 games. He won the Coupe de France in 1991 and reached the finals of the European Winner’s Cup in 1993. In the summer of 2001, he joined Juventus with Buffon.
Thuram played a key role in France winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup at home and the Euro 2000 in Belgium. He scored an impressive goal against Croatia in the semi-finals, helping France reach the finals. His strong defense, which only allowed 2 goals in 7 matches, earned him the Bronze Ball at the 1998 World Cup.
5. Didier Deschamps
The nickname “Water Carrier” perfectly reflects the hard work and dedication of the young boy from Bayonne who aimed to become one of the greatest French footballers. Didier Deschamps, one of the longest-serving managers of the French national team, led France to victory in both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the Euros in 2000, achieving this in just two years.
Deschamps started his international career during a tough time when France failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1990 and 1994. During his second time with Marseille, he won two league titles in a row in 1991 and 1992, becoming the youngest captain to win the trophy. As one of the most decorated French footballers, Deschamps also won three Serie-A titles with Juventus before moving to Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup.
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4. Just Fontaine
Fontaine holds the record for scoring the most goals in a single FIFA World Cup. He set this record in 1958. Fontaine scored a hat trick in his first match against Luxembourg, helping France beat Gibraltar 8-0. He started his career with USM Casablanca and later joined Stade De Reims, where he scored 121 goals in six seasons.
While legends like Messi, Ronaldo, and Klose needed at least 20 matches to score 13 goals in World Cup history, Fontaine scored 13 goals in just 6 matches. If injuries hadn’t forced him to retire early after playing only 21 matches for France, he might still be their top scorer.
3. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers ever, and Arsenal fans still love him. Henry first showed he was special when he became France’s top scorer during their 1998 World Cup win at just 20 years old.
In the 2001-02 season, he won the Golden Boot by scoring 32 goals and helped Arsenal win the Premier League. In the 2003-04 season, he set a record by scoring 39 goals in all competitions, and Arsenal went unbeaten in the league for the first time in over 100 years.
2. Michel Platini
Nicknamed “Le Roi,” which means “The King” in French, Platini is celebrated as one of the few football legends to win the Ballon d’Or three times in a row, showcasing his exceptional skills.
Juventus president Gianni Agnelli praised Platini, saying, “We bought him for a small price and he turned it into something special,” after his outstanding performances helped Juventus win in 1984 and 1986.
1. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players ever. People still fondly remember his goals and performances for the French team, Les Bleus, all over France.
After France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Zidane became a national hero. The Arc de Triomphe displayed his image with the words, “Merci Zizou.”
Zidane also achieved many awards while playing for Juventus and Real Madrid. In his last game at the Santiago Bernabéu, all the players wore special shirts with “ZIDANE 2001-2006” under the club’s logo, paying tribute to one of football’s greatest icons.
Here’s the table of the greatest french football players ever:
| Rank | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zinedine Zidane | – Appearances: 108 – Goals: 31 – Assists: 30 |
| 2 | Michel Platini | – Appearances: 72 – Goals: 41 – Assists: 20 |
| 3 | Thierry Henry | – Appearances: 123 – Goals: 51 – Assists: 27 |
| 4 | Just Fontaine | – Appearances: 21 – Goals: 30 – Assists: 0 |
| 5 | Didier Deschamps | – Appearances: 103 – Goals: 4 – Assists: 6 |
| 6 | Lilian Thuram | – Appearances: 142 – Goals: 2 – Assists: 4 |
| 7 | Eric Cantona | – Appearances: 45 – Goals: 20 – Assists: 8 |
| 8 | Kylian Mbappé | – Appearances: 102 – Goals: 40 – Assists: 25 |
| 9 | Laurent Blanc | – Appearances: 97 – Goals: 16 – Assists: 1 |
| 10 | Patrick Vieira | – Appearances: 107 – Goals: 6 – Assists: 11 |
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