The French are regarded as the best in the world of football. They have achieved the greatest level of success of any country. In terms of their history, two World Cups, two European Championships, and one Olympic gold medal in football speak for itself. The haul also includes more than five more medals. The best players are needed to win all of this, and France has created an abundance of them. French-born players are naturally artistic and, at their best, mysterious and captivating. clever yet also driven. Because France is blessed with a diverse population of immigrants from various regions, their team produces a range of prodigies. France has produced an abundance of talented football players, including world-class strikers, formidable, cerebral defenders, and cunning playmakers. Find the list of the Top 10 France Players of All Time below.
The Top 10 France Players of All Time
Marcel Desailly
Marcel Desailly, a former soccer player for France, was born on September 7, 1969, in Accra, Ghana. After receiving his training at FC Nantes, Marcel Desailly started his professional career in 1986. Before moving to Qatar in 2004 and 2005, he joined the ranks of Nantes, Marseille, Milan, and Chelsea. Marcel Desailly, the Italian and Qatari champion and two-time Champions League winner, was a member of the legendary French squad that competed internationally. In a one-on-one, monster power is unbeatable. As one of the four members of the “invincible,” Desailly demonstrated at the 1998 World Cup that he is among the finest in his position.
When lined up, the Thuram-Desailly-Blanc-Lizarazu defense line lost no games. Capable of scoring vital goals, like against Brazil in the 2001 Confederations Cup quarterfinals, “Le Roc,” record time selections, is currently the third most capped Frenchman in history. At the twilight of his career, Marcel Desailly handed up the cleats in 2006 following a brief stint in Qatar. As a sports consultant, he can still indulge his enthusiasm for soccer on the Canal + and Beln Sports channels. He starts off our list of The Top 10 France Players of All Time.
Laurent Blanc
Born in Ales, Gard on November 19, 1965, Laurent Blanc is a former French international soccer player. He made his professional debut in 1983 wearing Montpellier’s uniform. Throughout his career, Laurent Blanc has left his bags in the locker rooms of various French teams and gone abroad to play in Italy, Spain, and England. He has made a name for himself on the international level by donning the France team’s jersey. Before hanging up his boots in 2003, Laurent Blanc played a major role in the double team for the French national team during the World Cup in 1998 and the Euro in 2000 as the last line of defense in front of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
He took a while to obtain his coaching degrees before joining the Girondins of Bordeaux in 2007. The next year, he made a call to become the head coach of the France squad. He led to the Euro 2012 quarterfinals.
Fabien Barthez
Fabien is a French soccer player who was born on June 28, 1971, in Lavelnet, in the Ariège department. Although he played rugby, his greatest performance was as a goalie in soccer. He began training at the Toulouse soccer club when he was fifteen years old. Marseille Olympique signed him up in 1992 based on his skill. He and OM won the Champions League in 1993. After that, he joined AS Monaco as a goalie and went on to win two titles as the French Champion. Fabien Barthez represented France in the 1998 World Cup as their official goalkeeper. Alongside David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry, and Zinédine Zidane, he won the title and the Euro two years later.
That year, he joined the legendary club, Manchester United before returning to Marseille and finished his soccer career at FC Nantes in 2008. Just after retiring from the field, the former world champion did not put an end to football. He returned as a consultant for TF1 during the 2010 World Cup and on Téléfoot. Fabien Barthez then joined France’s goalkeeper’s coaching team, led by his friend Laurent Blanc. He is the only goalkeeper on our list of The Top 10 France Players of All Time.
Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram, a former French international soccer player, was born on January 1, 1972, in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Following his 1991 debut with AS Monaco, he traveled to Parma and then Juventus in Italy in 1996 before concluding his career in Spain from 2006 to 2008 with FC Barcelona. Together with his teammates Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly, and Laurent Blanc, brilliant defenseman Lilian Thurman established the defensive foundation of the French squad.
Lilian Thuram stood out at the 1998 World Cup, which the Blues won. He scoring two goals against Croatia in the semifinals. The record of 142 choices counts for whoever remains after retirement and also contributes to France’s win at Euro 2000. Lilian Thuram became a member of the FFF Federal Council in December 2010. Devoted, the ex-soccer player also increased the number of times he appeared in the media to voice his views on racism and immigration.
Raymond Kopa
During the 1998 World Cup, which the Blues won, Lilian Thuram made a lasting impression by scoring two goals against Croatia in the semifinals. In addition to counting for whoever is left after retirement, the record of 142 picks also plays a part in France’s victory at Euro 2000. In December 2010, Lilian Thuram joined the FFF Federal Council. The former soccer star, who was devoted, also became more visible in the media, He frequently shared his opinions on immigration and prejudice.
Selected in 1952, Raymond Kopa joined the French team for their journey in the 1954 World Cup and won third place in the year 1958. Voted best player in this competition, Raymond Kopa scored 18 goals in the tricolor jersey in forty-five selections. Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) in 1958, Raymond Kopa is still considered as one of the best players in French soccer history with Michel Platini and Zinédine Zidane.
Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps, a former French international soccer player, was born on October 15, 1968, and has subsequently transitioned to coaching. The native of Bayonne started his professional career in Nantes in 1985. He donned the jerseys of OM, Bordeaux, Juventus, Chelsea, and Valencia with success. The captain of the French squad, defensive midfielder Didier Deschamps, and soccer star Zinédine Zidane jointly won the world championship in 1998 and again two years later, marking the first time in the team’s history.
Following the Blues’ 2000 championship, he decided to end his playing career and went on to coach several teams, including AS Monaco, Juventus, and OM. He has been the French national team’s coach since 2012, and during his tenure, the squad made it to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine is a former French international soccer player, born August 18, 1933, in Morocco. Following his debut at a Casablanca club, he relocated to France and signed with OGC Nice. There, he played for three successful seasons, scoring 44 goals, which caught the attention of Reims Stadium, one of the major French soccer teams at the time. Just Fontaine, a two-time league top scorer in France, has scored 165 goals in 200 games overall. With 13 goals in all, Just Fontaine is the record holder for most goals scored in a World Cup final. a well-received 1958 Swedish performance that many regarded as unparalleled.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, an international soccer player for Monaco, was born in Ulis, a French village, on August 17, 1977. He started playing professionally for Monaco in 1994. Thierry Henry made his way through Juventus in 1999 before joining Arsenal, where he played his greatest years. The Frenchman became the highest goalscorer in Gunners history with 228 goals. A few years later he was honored with a statue outside the London stadium.
After moving to FC Barcelona in 2007, Thierry Henry improved his overall record with a remarkable six-fold in 2009, a Champions League triumph, and a Spain Championship, among other accomplishments. The French forward’s next stop was the New York Redbulls in 2010. For the first time, in 1997, Thierry Henry endorsed the France team’s uniform. He was chosen by coach Aimé Jacquet to be a member of the French team that would play in the 1998 World Cup.
Between 1997 and 2010, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet combined to produce one of the tricolor line-ups’ most effective offensive combinations. He concluded his playing career in 2014 and thereafter worked as a sportsman’s consultant. To help the Belgian team win the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the former French international striker joined the team in August 2016 as Roberto Martinez’s assistant coach.
Michel Platini
Former French soccer player Michel Platini was born in Lorraine on June 21, 1955. With his training at Nancy, young Michel Platini rose to prominence as one of the most sought-after French players. He made quick friends with Saint-Etienne, who at the time was the strongest French team. Michel Platini, the champion of France and creator of a stunning European course, is ultimately sent to Juventus of Turin, the dominant Italian team. It was here that he realized what his genuine potential was. Platini achieved an amazing record in just five years. It included winning the European Cup in a memorable match against Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.
But it is impossible to separate Michel Platini’s tale from that of France’s team. Platoche led the Blues to triumph in the 1984 European Championship with his great playing abilities. Along with Pelé, Maradona, and Zinédine Zidane, Michel Platini is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players in history. Michel Platini played one final season for Juventus until he retired in May 1987, worn out from his career. Michel Platini made a lasting impression on the soccer world with his stellar record. But this sports fan decided to make a life shift.
After a lengthy career as a professional soccer player, Michel Platini succeeded Henri Michel as head coach of the French soccer team in November 1988. He held several different roles before being appointed special advisor to the FIFA President and co-president of the World Cup organizing committee in 1988. He then rose to the position of vice president of the FFF. In March 2005, he took over as head of the international department.
Zinédine Zidane
Zinédine Zidane, a French soccer player, has had a stellar career in France and abroad. He has been repeatedly voted the FIF’s most valuable player of the year. He is ranked among the top 125 soccer players in the world. At the age of 15, he joined AS Cannes in 1987 after spending several years in Marseille. He had already donned the renowned No 10. His ability to play helped him to transition into the professional ranks a year later. He was signed by Girondins-de-Bordeaux in 1992. He played for them for four years before moving on to Juventus Turin.
Because of Juventus’s success in the Champions League final and as the Italian Champions, he was crowned the greatest European player in 1998 and was awarded the Ballon d’Or, also known as the Golden Ball. But his two headers in the 98 World Cup versus Brazil were the crowning achievement. The French team would be the first to win the title of World Champions. His assistance in the Blues’ UEFA European Championship victory in 2000 allowed them to accomplish a rare double in soccer history. He tops our list of The Top 10 France Players of All Time.
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