Few nations can rival the recent dominance achieved by the French national team. After winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the final of the most recent edition, it’s no surprise that some of the greatest players in the game’s history hail from France. The country also continues to develop some of the brightest young stars, suggesting that further success on the global stage is likely in the coming generations. So, who are some of the greatest players to have represented France?
Kylian Mbappe
The superstar forward is largely regarded as one of the best players of the modern era and is the current captain of the French national team. Mbappe famously took a bold stance against soccer’s ties to French online casinos, poker sites, and bookmakers, refusing to participate in any promotions with betting companies.
Mbappe enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Monaco, winning the Ligue 1 title, before joining PSG aged 18 for a staggering £180 million. The deal saw him become the second-most expensive player in the world. The deal has worked for both parties involved, as Mbappe has won five league titles with the team, and led the club to its first-ever Champions League final. He is also the club’s all-time leading scorer, but he will depart the team for Real Madrid this summer. At international level, he became the second-youngest player to score in a World Cup final in France’s stunning win over Croatia.
Mbappe would make more headlines by becoming the second player to score a World Cup final hat-trick in 2022, but France would ultimately lose to Argentina.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is widely regarded as the greatest French soccer player of all time. He transcended the game throughout his professional career, making his name at Monaco before joining Juventus. However, his time in Italy came to an end in 1999 after he agreed to sign with Arsenal.
Under Arsene Wenger’s stewardship, Henry became one of the most prolific strikers in the world, scoring a club-record 228 goals across all competitions. Henry won the Premier League title on two occasions and the FA Cup twice. The Frenchman also won the Premier League Golden Boot on a record four occasions.
However, he left the club in 2007 to join Barcelona, playing a key part in the treble-winning season under Pep Guardiola. Henry would also achieve major success with the national team, winning the World Cup and EUROs in 1998 and 2000, respectively.
Zinedine Zidane
Few more talented players have played the game than Zinedine Zidane. The French star is regarded as one of the best players to have laced up a pair of boots, with many believing that Zizou was the most elegant and visionary player to take to the field.
Throughout his career, he won several prestigious individual honors, including the FIFA World Player of the Year award on three occasions. Zidane started his career with Cannes before becoming one of the best midfielders in the world during his spell with Bordeaux. He quickly progressed during a five-year stay with Juventus, winning the Serie A title twice. Real Madrid paid a world-record fee for the Frenchman in 2001, and he immediately made his mark after scoring the winning goal in the 2002 Champions League final.
However, he would win just one La Liga title during his five-year stay. Zidane won 108 caps for France and scored twice in France’s World Cup final victory over Brazil in 1998. He would later play a key role in winning the EUROs in 2000. However, in shocking circumstances, his career would end in the World Cup after he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi.
Conclusion
France has been blessed with many legendary players throughout its football history. From the iconic Eric Cantona of the 90s to the modern-day greats like Patrick Vieira and Karim Benzema, the French national team has seen no talent shortage.
The continuous influx of talented players ensures that France remains a top contender in major tournaments. This will be evident once again in the summer of 2024, despite the absence of influential stars such as N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Paul Pogba. The question remains: who will be the next French superstar to shape a generation?
