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France, although winning the world cup only once, has produced many famous French soccer playerswho have graced the pitch with their presence over the years.It is a tedious and difficult task picking few among so many, but here is our list of top 10famous French soccer players.
#10 Marcel Desailly
The defender was an essential part of the France national team of 1998.Later on playing as a sweeper at club level for Milan, Desailly was the first player to win Champions League title in consecutive seasons for two different teams, winning it with Marseille in '93 and Milan in '94, where he scored in the final himself.
#9 Claude Makelele
The defensive midfielder was so good in what he did, he had the role named after him as 'the makelele role''.The unsung hero in innumerable matches, Makelele did the dirty work for the French team and all the teams that he played for.With creative players like Raul, Zidane and Lampard playing alongside him in his illustrious career, it was he who has left with the task of winning the ball and diving in the tackles.
#8 Patrick Vieira
The mainstay of the winning French team as well as the Invinvible Arsenal side, Patrick Vieira was a dominant defensive midfielder renowned for his crunching tackles, positioning, awareness on the pitch and verbal bouts with opponents. He was the captain of the Arsenal side who went to become Invincibles, going through a whole season in 2003-2004 without losing a match.
#7 Didier Deschamps
The "water-carrier" of the team, Deschamps did all the dirty work when the likes of Zidane and Henry worked their magic.Captain of the winning French team of '98, Deschamps was also the youngest ever captain to win the Champions League, when Marseille were crowned the Champions in 1993.
#6 Laurent Blanc
The present day manager was once a formidable defender and is well known for scoring a golden goal in th '98 World cup. Along with Lillian Thuram, he provided the base and leadership the French national team needed to achieve that elusive feat of lifting the world cup
#5 Eric Cantona
The 'King' of Old Trafford, infamous for his Kung-fu kick which landed him a prolonged ban.His arrival at Manchester United was the main catalyst which led the Old Trafford based team to go on and maintain a clear dominance in the premier league for years to come.His fans loved him, his team mates adored him and his opponents feared him, he was in every sense of the word a true Red Devil.
#4 Thierry Henry
Henry never had a good international career but at the club level, the man was a beast.The grace and poise and sheer acceleration with which he played week in week out used to shred the defences to pieces. His quintessential runs and then simple pass in the back of the net were a sight to behold, as would say each and every Arsenal fan and for that matter all those who witnessed his class.
#3 Just Fontaine
In 2003, Just Fontaine was voted the greatest football player of France of the last fifty years ahead of Zidane and Platini.His performance in the 1958 world cup is still considered by many as the greatest individual performance in a World cup. Fontaine scored 13 goals, 4 of them against the defending champions West Germany. A prolific scorer, Just Fontaine maintained a high goals to match ratio throughout his career.
#2 Zinedine Zidane
Although from an algerian origin, he is one son every French mother would have been proud to have. There are not many players so complete and so assured on the ball as our Zizou. Sporting a powerful shot, grace like a swan and well built frame, his high point came in the world cup of '98, when he scored two in the final to give the French their first ever taste of World cup.The only reason he is not topping our list is because of his disgraceful and unfortunate exit from the game which marked the lowest point in his career.
#1 Michel Platini
Nowadays, a rather disliked and controversial figure, Michel Platini in his days was the lynchpin of the French national team. A three time Ballon d'Or winner, he was nothing less than a magician on the pitch, his immaculate passing, deadly shooting and set piece ability being the primary weapons in his vast inventory of skills. He drove his national side to their first ever international trophy in the 1984 European championships.
