Top 10 greatest French players of all time (Ranked)

French football is known for producing strong and athletic players, particularly in the defensive midfield position. However, their greatest footballers have often been attack-minded players who combined this athleticism with technical attributes.

French clubs tend to export their best players to Spain, England, or Italy before winning anything. The only French club to win the European Cup (Champions League) was Marseille in 1993.

Many of Marseille’s players achieved greater success with the national team, which is the best way to assess French footballers. France have had 4 eras of success:

• 1958-1960: World Cup 1958 3rd place, Euro 1960 4th place.
• 1982-1986: World Cup 1982 4th place, Euro 1984 champions, World Cup 1986 3rd place.
• 1996-2006: Euro 1996 3rd place, World Cup 1998 champions, Euro 2000 champions, World Cup 2006 runner up.
• 2016-present: Euro 2016 runner up, World Cup 2018 champions, World Cup 2022 runner up.

In particular, the team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 was one of the greatest of all time. Regardless, the following list includes players from each of these eras. Statistics and videos are included to help you to judge their abilities.

10. Karim Benzema

In 2022, Karim Benzema became the 5th Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or award after scoring 44 goals in 46 games and winning the Champions League. It was his 5th Champions League triumph (2014, 2016–2018, and 2022), which is the most for a Frenchman (the overall record is 6).

In his 14 seasons with Real Madrid, Benzema also won 4 league titles and 3 domestic cups. Prior to that, he played for Lyon, winning 4 league titles and a domestic cup. At 35, he decided to play in Saudi Arabia.

Benzema missed France’s 2018 World Cup victory following a blackmail scandal, and he was injured for the 2022 tournament. He is known for his finishing, intelligence, movement, and versatility.

9. Jean Tigana

With France, Jean Tigana won Euro 1984 and came 3rd in the 1986 World Cup. He was in the All-Star team for both and was a runner up for the 1984 Ballon d’Or. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he became a “box-to-box” player due to his work-rate, driving runs, teamwork, and incisive passing.

At club level, Tigana spent his entire career in France, including 3 years each with Toulon and Lyon. He then spent 8 seasons with Bordeaux, winning 3 league titles and 2 domestic cups, and 2 seasons with Marseille, winning the league in both.

8. Jean-Pierre Papin

Jean-Pierre Papin won the Ballon d’Or in 1991. He scored more than 30 goals in 4 consecutive seasons for Marseille, winning 4 league titles and a domestic cup. Before that, he won a domestic cup with Club Brugge in Belgium.

Papin’s goal-scoring earned him a move to AC Milan, where he won 2 league titles and the 1994 Champions League. He then won a UEFA Cup (Europa League) with Bayern Munich and ended his career in France with Bordeaux and Guingamp.

Papin debuted for France just after Euro 1984 and played in the 1986 World Cup (3rd place). He was a master of spectacular and unusual goals (see video below) and was a precise, powerful, and instinctive finisher.

7. Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and was runner up in the 2006 World Cup. He was in the All-Star team for all 3 tournaments and picked up the Bronze Ball in 1998 (for 3rd best player). He also has the 2nd most caps for France (after Hugo Lloris’ 145).

Thuram had spells with Monaco and Parma, winning a domestic cup with both and a UEFA Cup with the latter. He then won 2 league titles with Juventus before ending his career with Barcelona.

Thuram was a master of the crunching tackle and he used his strength, athleticism, and height to dominate his opponents. His intelligence, technique, and tactical awareness made him the complete defender at either center-back or right-back.

6. Just Fontaine

Just Fontaine scored the most ever goals in a World Cup. His record of 13 goals in 6 matches at the 1958 World Cup is never likely to be broken. France came 3rd after they were defeated by Pelé’s incredible Brazil team in the semi-final, and Fontaine also placed 3rd in the 1958 Ballon d’Or.

Fontaine began his club career in Morocco with Casablanca before moving to Nice in France where he won a league title and a domestic cup. He then played for Reims, winning 3 league titles and a domestic cup. After averaging almost a goal per game, a recurring injury forced Fontaine to retire, aged 28.

5. Raymond Kopa

Raymond Kopa was also part of France’s 1958 World Cup team, scoring 3 goals, featuring in the All-Star team, and winning the 1958 Ballon d’Or. At club level, he was part of the famous Real Madrid team of the 1950s that won several European Cups. Kopa won 3 of them (1957–1959) plus 2 league titles.

Before and after Real Madrid, Kopa played for Reims in the French league, where he won 4 league titles. He was known for his pace, creativity, finishing, and ability to dribble past defenders.

4. Kylian Mbappé

Despite having a long career ahead of him, Kylian Mbappé’s talent is undeniable. He started at Monaco, winning a league title. At Paris Saint-Germain, he progressed to scoring 40 goals per season (Ligue 1 top scorer 6 times). He became the club’s record scorer, winning 6 league titles and 4 domestic cups. In 2024, he moved to Real Madrid.

For France, Mbappé won the 2018 World Cup and was runner up in 2022, scoring in both finals. In the 2022 tournament, he won the Golden Boot (8 goals) and Silver Ball (2nd best player after Messi). He already has 12 World Cup goals (Miroslav Klose has the record with 16).

Already France’s captain, Mbappé has incredible pace, acceleration, dribbling, technique, and finishing. He is also versatile enough to play in any forward position.

3. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is probably the greatest striker in Premier League history. He also has the 2nd most goals for France, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and was runner up in the 2006 World Cup (All-Star team in 2000 and 2006).

Henry is Arsenal’s record scorer, netting more than 30 goals in 5 successive seasons (Premier League top scorer 4 times), and winning 2 league titles and 2 domestic cups. Before Arsenal, Henry won a league title with Monaco. After, he won 2 league titles, a domestic cup, and the 2009 Champions League with Barcelona.

Henry was runner up for the 2003 Ballon d’Or (3rd in 2006). He has played on the wing and shares the Premier League record for most assists in a season (20). He was known for his pace, athleticism, dribbling, technique, and precise finishing from range.

2. Michel Platini

Michel Platini won the Ballon d’Or 3 times (1983–1985) and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players. He won Euro 1984, scoring 9 goals (Golden Boot) and being named “player of the tournament.” He was also in the All-Star team for both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

Platini began his club career with Nancy, winning a domestic cup, before moving to Saint-Étienne, where he won a league title. Platini moved to Juventus during his peak, winning 2 league titles, a domestic cup, the 1985 European Cup, and the 1984 European Cup Winners Cup.

Platini was the complete attacking package: a free-kick specialist with expert finishing, passing, creativity, control, and dribbling, and the intelligence to deliver on the big stage.

1. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane established himself as one of the greatest World Cup players between 1998 and 2006. He won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and was runner up in the 2006 World Cup. He was in the All-Star Team for all 3 tournaments (and at Euro 2004) and was the best player in 2000 and 2006 (Golden Ball).

Zidane won the Ballon d’Or in 1998. He was perhaps the most elegant footballer ever (see video below), with sublime ball control, individual skill, passing, vision, dribbling, and an eye for goal. His physical strength also gave him the ability to shake off defenders and retain possession.

Zidane played for Cannes and Bordeaux but did not win a major trophy until his move to Italy in 1996. With Juventus, he won 2 league titles in 5 seasons but was defeated twice in the Champions League final (1997 and 1998). Zidane then won a league title and the 2002 Champions League in 5 seasons with Real Madrid.

Honorable Mentions and Future Additions

Many footballers were considered for this list. The following players narrowly missed out:

• Marcel Desailly (defender; won 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000)
• Patrick Vieira (defensive midfielder; won 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000)
• Didier Deschamps (defensive midfielder; won 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000)
• Eric Cantona (forward; Manchester United legend)
• Franck Ribéry (winger; won 2013 Champions League and 9 league titles)
• Antoine Griezmann (forward; won 2018 World Cup)
• Olivier Giroud (striker; won 2018 World Cup; France’s top scorer (54 goals)