The 10 Greatest French Footballers Of All Time

10. Marcel Desailly

Marcel Desailly

Marcel Desailly played 20 years for clubs and France. He played center back and defensive midfielder. The legendary player has won the UEFA Champions League twice with two different clubs. He's won it with Marseille and AC Milan.

09. Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc played for Barcelona, Napoli, Inter Milan, and Manchester United. He's played in many international tournaments. Blanc is a winner. 1990 French player of the year. He won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona, the Premier League with Manchester United, and League 1 and the French Cup with AJ Auxerre.

08. Just Fountaine

Just Fountaine

1950s and 1960s musician Just Fountaine. He scored for Nice and Reims. Three with Stade Reims and one with OGC Nice. Fontaine won two French Cups with Stade Reims and OGC Nice. He scored 13 goals in only 6 1958 FIFA World Cup matches, a record.

07. Raymond Kopa

Raymond Kopa

1950s attacking midfielder Raymond Kopa. Reims, Angers, and Real Madrid employed him. In 1957-1959, he won 3 European Champions Cups and 2 La Ligas with Real Madrid. Kopa won the French league and French Super Cup with Stade Reims.

06. Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin

Papin played for Marseille, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, and Bordeaux. He scored 174 goals in 265 appearances for Marseille and won four league 1 titles and one French Cup. He won the UEFA Champions League, two Serie A titles, and an Italian Super Cup with AC Milan. 

05. Lilian Thurram

Lilian Thurram

Thurram is the most admired defender in the history of French football. He could play right-back or center-back. As Monaco, Parma, Juventus, and Barcelona. He has won 2 Serie A titles and 1 Italian super cup with Juventus and 1 Super cup with Barcelona.

04. Didier Deschamps

Didier Deschamps

Didier Deschamps played for Nantes, Marseille, Bordeaux, Juventus, Chelsea, and Valencia. He won three French league titles and the 1993 European Championship with Marseille. At Juventus, he won 3 Italian leagues, 2 Italian Super Cups, 1 Italian Cup, and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

03. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry, one of France's greatest footballers, is a great striker. He played for Monaco and Juventus. In 1999, he joined Arsenal and became the club's all-time leading scorer and assist provider with 228 goals and 104 assists in 376 matches.

02. Michel Platini

Michel Platini

Michel Platini was an attacking midfielder, manager, and administrator. Nancy, Saint Etienne, and Juventus were his teams. Platini scored 104 goals in 223 appearances for Juventus, winning 2 Serie A titles, 1 European champion clubs' cup, 1 Italian cup, 1 UEFA Super cup, and 1 intercontinental cup.

01. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane

Zidane is the best French footballer and one of the best ever. His many individual and team titles and outstanding skills make him a legendary player. Two Serie A titles, one intercontinental cup, one Italian Super Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup.