France is home to some of the best Football players in the world, and this list is proof of that! From Lionel Messi to Antoine Griezmann, these guys are some of the best in the business. So if you’re a fan of the sport, be sure to check out this list and see who cuts. These players are not only great on the pitch, but they’re also personalities off it, so be sure to give them a follow if you want to get a good sense of what they’re like. Bon match!
1. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is the top-performing football player in France right now. He’s been a key part of the team that’s been winning plenty of trophies recently.
Born in France, Zidane started playing football at an early age and quickly developed into one of the country’s best players. He made his international debut in 1994 and went on to win multiple awards and accolades throughout his career, including three Champions League titles (2002-03, 2006-07, 2011-12) and two FIFA World Cups (1998, 2006). At the club level, he has also won numerous honours with Real Madrid, including La Liga (1996-97), European Cup (2001), Spanish Super Cup (2002), Copa del Rey (2003), French Cup (2004) and UEFA Champions League (2006).
Zidane is a well-rounded footballer who is skilled at both attack and defence. He has a good eye for goals and is very quick on his feet. His consistency has made him one of the most popular players in France – and indeed throughout Europe – and he will undoubtedly be a key figure in Juventus’ bid for Champions League glory this season.
2. Michel Platini
Michel Platini is a retired French footballer and the current president of FIFA. He is widely regarded as one of the best football players of all time and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and 1998. He also won the Ballon d’Or (the world’s most prestigious football award) three times, in 1984, 1985, and 1991.
Platini played for several top-flight French clubs throughout his career, including Juventus, PSG, and OGC Nice. He is the most capped player in UEFA Champions League history with 158 appearances. He also played for the France national team from 1972 to 1998, earning 101 caps and scoring 34 goals.
As president of FIFA since re-election on December 02, 2009, Platini has been involved in many controversies surrounding corruption within world football. In particular, he was implicated in a $2 million payment made by Blatter to Platini’s assistant Michel D’Hooghe in 2011; both men have since denied any wrongdoing. After much speculation over his position at FIFA, on November 02, 2015, it was announced that Platini would resign as president two days later due to being investigated by Swiss authorities over an initial suspicion of receiving an honorary salary worth more than $2 million while still being President of FIFA.
3. Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa was a French footballer who is most famous for his time with Barcelona. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and he is also the only player to have won both the World Cup and European Championship.
Kopa was born in Biarritz, France, in 1932. He started playing football at an early age, and he quickly developed into one of the country’s top players. In 1958, he joined Barcelona, where he would spend the majority of his career. He won numerous trophies with Barcelona – including three La Liga titles and two Copa del Reys (the Spanish Cup). He also played for France’s national team, and he participated in the World Cup and European Championship tournaments.
Kopa died in 2009 at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer. He remains one of the most celebrated footballers in history, and his legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.
4. Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine is considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. He was a French international and one of the stars of the 1958 World Cup, which France won.
Fontaine was a powerful and fast player who was able to score goals with either foot. He was also very skillful with the ball at his feet, making him extremely difficult to defend against. He is particularly remembered for his trademark volley kick, which he used to score some stunning goals.
Fontaine retired from professional football in 1971 and went on to have a successful career as a coach. He is currently co-owner of Racing Santander, where he leads their youth academy.
5. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is a French professional football player who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and he is also a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
Henry began his career with the French club Arsenal, where he won several championships and EFL Cup medals. He then signed for Barcelona, where he became one of the most successful players in the club’s history. He was part of their La Liga championship-winning team in 2006 and the Copa del Rey-winning team in 2007. In 2008, Henry moved to the New York Red Bulls, where he has continued to be one of their most important players. In December 2016, Henry announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the MLS season.
Henry has made over 250 appearances for France and has won major international medals, including two UEFA European Championships (2000 and 2004), two FIFA World Cups (2002 and 2010), three Confederations Cups (2005, 2009, and 2013), as well as three CONMEBOL Copa América titles (2007, 2011 and 2015).
6. Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin is a retired French football player who played as a goalkeeper. He started his professional career with US Créteil in 1984 and went on to play for several clubs, including Marseille, Bordeaux and Lyon. He was part of the France team that finished third at the 1990 World Cup and was part of the France side that qualified for the 1994 World Cup. In total, he made over 100 appearances for his country.
7. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona is one of the greatest French football players of all time. He was a striker for Manchester United and has won numerous awards, including three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League. He also represented France at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2002, as well as the European Championship in 1996 and 2000.
Cantona is widely regarded as one of the best players in history and is considered to be one of Manchester United’s all-time greats. He is also known for his eccentric personality and is often referred to as “the king of trash-talking.” Cantona remains popular with fans around the world, and he continues to play professional football today.
8. Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is the current captain and manager of the French national football team. He has won two FIFA World Cup titles, in 1998 and 2002, as well as four European Championships titles in 1984, 1996, 2000, and 2008. He also led France to their first-ever victory at a World Cup in 2006.
Deschamps began his career at FC Metz before moving to Marseille in 1993. He was part of the Marseille team that reached the Champions League final in 1997, but they were eventually defeated by Barcelona. The following year, Deschamps moved to Juventus, where he helped them win two consecutive Serie A titles. In 2001, he transferred to Real Madrid, where he won another champion League title and two La Liga championships.
In 2012, Deschamps returned to France to become manager of the Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. In his first season back at the club level, he led them to their first Ligue 1 title in over a decade. In May 2016, Deschamps was appointed as manager of Les Bleus after being chosen ahead of Laurent Blanc by French Football Federation president Noel Le Great.
9. Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram is a former French international footballer who played as a center-back. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the history of the sport, and he was named captain of France’s team in 2002. Thuram also holds the record for most appearances for France, with 152 matches over 12 years.
Thuram is one of only four players to have won both the World Cup and European Championship titles. In 1998, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or trophy, which is awarded annually to the world’s best player. Thuram retired from professional football in 2007 after failing to win any major titles with Monaco.
In 2022, Tharman will turn 40, so it will be interesting to see what kind of impact he has on the French national team at this stage in his career.
10. Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc is the current manager of the French national team, and he has led them to several impressive victories over the past few years. He’s known for his meticulous approach to football, which has helped his team play at a high level throughout his tenure.
Blanc was born in France in 1971 and played as a defender for several teams before becoming a manager. He started his managerial career with Lille in 2002, leading them to third place in Ligue 1 and qualification for the Champions League. After two years at Nantes, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2005 and helped them win Ligue 1 and reach the Champions League final.
In 2012, Blanc took over as manager of Les Bleus and had since led them to victory at Euro 2016, as well as numerous other trophies, including the World Cup in 2018. He’s currently the head coach of Bayern Munich but will likely move back to PSG soon after this season concludes.
