The FIFA World Cup Countdown: Top 10 French Footballers Of All Time Case Study You'll Never Forget
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| French Footballers |
10. Franck Ribery (2006-present, 80 caps, 16 goals)
Some have prompt that Ribery is overrated, however, last year's Ballon d'Or campaigner has, at club level a minimum of, won just about each honor on provide.
After serving to Galatasaray to win the Turkish Cup in 2005, he has become a key figure of the extremely spectacular Bayern city squad. With the German club, he has won four Bundesliga titles, 3 DFB-Pokals, one Champions League and a World Club Cup.
Where international soccer cares the 31-year-old splits opinion among the French trustworthy, however, he has still turned in some obvious performances. His 1st goal was a very unforgettable one as he scored it within the 1st knockout spherical of the 2006 World Cup against Spain.
9. Lilian Thuram (1994-2008, 142 caps, two goals)
The defender has won trophies in France, Italia, and Spain, furthermore as being a key member of France's golden amount. In short, he's extremely thought of in his land.
Where club soccer cares, the bulk of his success came with Juventus, whom he helped to win 2 Serie A titles and therefore the Italian Super Cup doubly.
The currently 42-year-old wasn't better-known for rating goals, though the 2 that he scored for France were crucial ones. With the hosts losing 1-0 within the semi-finals of France '98, Thuram unemployed in associate degree sudden brace to send his nation into the ultimate, wherever they might overcome Brazil. it was a performance that saw him voted into the Team of the Tournament, even as he was 2 years later once France won the ECU Championships.
8. Eric Cantona (1987-1995, 45 caps, 20 goals)
It will come back as very little surprise to find out that the fiery Cantona's international career was full of contestation. He fell out with managers - particularly Henri Michel and Aime Jacquet - the latter of that price him the possibility of bobbing up at a significant tournament in monetary unit '96. however, he still scored a powerful twenty goals for his country, as well as each in a very 2-1 World Cup qualifying convince Sverige.
After being hounded out of Ligue one following a string of incidents, he headed across The Channel, serving to urban center United to win the title in 1992. He then joined Manchester United, wherever he would become associate degree previous Trafford legend as he spearheaded the club to four Premier League titles and 2 solfa syllable Cups.
His stint with the Red Devils wasn't while strife, however, it's honest to mention that he's additional extremely regarded in England than he's in France.
7. Patrick Vieira (1997-2009, 107 caps, six goals)
Part of France's golden era, in his prime, former Arsenal stalwart Vieira was regarded to be one in all the world's best midfielders.
He might not are a daily starter throughout France '98, though he did come back on as substitute throughout the ultimate, however, he was a key fixture of the aspect that won the ECU Championships 2 years later.
In England, there wasn't a lot of better-known of Vieira once he created the switch from AC city in 1996, however, he presently became an important cog in Arsene Wenger's machine. He won 3 Premier League titles and 4 solfa syllable Cups, furthermore as an additional four Serie A titles back in Italia with inhume city.
6. Jean-Pierre Papin (1986-1995, 54 caps, 30 goals)
Such was the impression that Papin had created throughout his six-year spell with Marseille, AC city was convinced to dispense with a world-record fee of £10m to secure his services in 1992 - an enormous total for the time.
The striker did not establish himself totally at the San Siro, however, he'd already tested his quality at each club and international level.
Sadly for a player of his talent, he was a member of the French aspect that has since been branded 'the cursed generation'. With Michel Platini retired and therefore the likes Zinedine Zidane still a way off establishing himself, France usually struggled to possess an impression or qualify for major tournaments throughout Papin's prime years.
5. Just Fontaine (1953-1960, 21 caps, 30 goals)
A much-fancied France could have solely finished third at the 1958 World Cup, however, Fontaine created an enduring impression on the tournament. He scored thirteen goals - a World Cup record that also stands - including a quartet of strikes throughout the contest encounter against West Germany.
His debut for France was conjointly an unforgettable one as he scored thrice against Luxembourg in a very 1954 World Cup qualifier.
The 80-year-old's most roaring amount at club level was spent with Stade First State city, whom he helped to win the Ligue one title on 3 occasions. He was conjointly the leading goalscorer throughout the 1958-59 European Cup with ten goals, though city lost to Real Spanish capital within the final.
4. Thierry Henry (1997-2010, 123 caps, 51 goals)
With clinical players like Papin, Platini, and Fontaine for company, it's some accomplishment that Henry is France's leading goalscorer of all time by a 10-goal margin.
Many can keep in mind the handball incident that robbed the Republic of Eire of an opportunity of reaching the 2010 World Cup, however, there was far more to Henry's international career than that. He scored 3 goals throughout France '98 and another 3 at the monetary unit 2000. it was conjointly his goal that defeated defensive champions Brazil at the quarter-final stage in 2006.
As way as Arsenal fans square measure involved, several can feel that he's their best player. this the big apple Red Bulls frontman is that the North Londoners' record goalscorer, having found cyberspace on 228 occasions - helped by the fact that for 5 serial seasons he scored 30-plus goals.
3. Raymond Kopa (1952-1962, 45 caps, 18 goals)
To win the Player of the Tournament award at the 1958 World Cup, Kopa had to beat off competition from the likes of Pele, Garrincha, and his free-scoring mate Fontaine. Later that year, he conjointly won the desired Ballon d'Or.
His performances for France at the very best level would have come back as very little surprise to Real Spanish capital supporters, United Nations agency witnessed the Frenchwoman raise the ECU Cup on 3 occasions within the Fifties aboard Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano.
In 2004, the 82-year-old was named by Pele on his list of the highest a hundred twenty-five greatest living footballers of all time.
2. Michel Platini (1976-1987, 72 caps, 41 goals)
You can say what you would like regarding Platini in his role as head of UEFA, however, as a player, there are few higher to possess laced up a combine of trainers than the 58-year-old.
The midfielder's finest performances for France came throughout the 1984 European Championships as he guided the hosts to their 1st major international trophy. Les Bleus scored fourteen goals throughout that tournament, 9 of that came from Platini.
He conjointly had success together with his 3 clubs - urban center, Saint-Etienne and Juventus. it was his goal that helped Juve to win their 1st ever European Cup against metropolis in 1985, though the ending was marred by the tragic events within the Heysel arena that saw thirty-nine supporters lose their lives.
1. Zinedine Zidane (1994-2006, 108 caps, 31 goals)
No player can have old such contrastive emotions in 2 World Cup finals as Zizou. In 1998 he was the hero, rating 2 of the 3 goals that ruined Brazil. He then scored within the rarity event eight years later against Italia, however, he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi because the French were defeated on penalties. it was Zidane's last match as knowledgeable jock.
It was a tragic thanks to finishing such a glistering career that enclosed 2 Serie A title successes with Juventus and a La Liga crown in Spain with Real Spanish capital.
Among several unforgettable moments, he reached the summit throughout the 2002 Champions League final. because the ball born out of the sky, Zidane organized his feet in time to fireside associate degree unstoppable volley into the anodyne Leverkusen web - a goal that several relevances be one in all the most effective ever scored in any match.
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