As a nation, there is no denying just how much of an impact France has had on the beautiful game. From producing some of football’s very best goal machines and skill merchants to a plethora of the game’s most respected managers and clubs, the French have helped elevate the world’s most popular sport over the years.
French players are shining today
Even today, some top French talents are standing out in major European competitions. For example, World Cup winner Raphael Varane is an important player for Manchester United, a club who are currently priced at 8/1 when looking at FA Cup betting odds, a competition that has eluded the Red Devils since 2016. Additionally, Karim Benzema is still scoring goals at the tender age of 36, Kingsley Coman is turning it on at German giants Bayern Munich, and Antoine Griezmann appears to be enjoying life back at Atlético Madrid.
While some of today’s stellar line-up deserve our attention, there is a strong argument to suggest that a number of French stars from the past are better. After all, we’re talking regarding a nation with two World Cups and an abundance of Ballon d’Or winners. Let’s salute some of them below.
Zinedine Zidane made the game look so easy
For many, Zinedine Zidane is the greatest ever player the country has produced, and it’s entirely understandable as to why. A midfield maestro who oozed class and backed it up on numerous occasions by delivering on the biggest stages, Zidane embodied French football. Once the most expensive player ever when he left Juventus to join Real Madrid for £46.2million, Zidane was instrumental in France’s Euro 2000 win, while also inspiring Real Madrid to a 2002 Champions League victory. Effortless on the ball, Zidane also showcased his natural ability at the 2006 World Cup. Overall, when assessing his impact on the game, Zinedine Zidane is a true icon.
Thierry Henry is an Arsenal legend
A world-class player who certainly knew just how good he was, Thierry Henry was impossible to stop when he was in the mood. Unfortunately, for Premier League and international defenders alike, the former Monaco winger was rarely out of sorts. A natural finisher who top-scored in four Premier League seasons at Arsenal, Henry played a key role in the Gunners’ Invincibles campaign and he also won a historic treble with Spanish giants Barcelona. There’s a reason why some of the world’s greatest-ever defenders pick Henry as their toughest-ever opponent. When assessing some of the sport’s most powerful yet graceful strikers, Thierry Henry is hard to beat.
Michel Platini was an elegant genius
While the aforementioned Zinedine Zidane is a midfielder many fans regard as the finest they’ve ever seen in a French shirt, others tend to pick Michel Platini instead. Composed on the ball and with an eye for goal, Platini is an undoubted great. A European Cup winner in 1983, as well as shining for France at Euro 84, Platini also stood out for Juventus during their 1985 European Cup triumph. Around that time, trophies appeared to follow Platini wherever he went. As such, it came as no surprise to see him earn even more recognition by winning the Ballon d’Or three times, something only the likes of Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten have achieved alongside him.
