France has never been short of star power of the years but only a few have been able to translate that on the international stage. Winning the World Cup twice is no joke and it takes world class players to do that.
From matching winning greatness to solid consistency, to make an XI you need a balance of grit with that flair to make those differences to get over the line. These players become a different level when pulling on that blue France shirt. From over the years, this is the best team the country have ever produced.
GK: Hugo Lloris
France have had ups and downs in the goalkeeper department but Hugo Lloris was able to be a consistent safe pair of hands. The ultimate captain. Lloris holds the all-time appearance record for France (145 caps) and lifted the World Cup in 2018. His elite shot-stopping and quiet, commanding leadership defined the most consistently successful era in the national team's history.
RB: Lilian Thuram
A defensive colossus, Lilian Thuram was a brick wall on the right side of the famous 1998 defense that conceded just two goals all tournament.
He is immortalized for his incredible two-goal performance against Croatia in the 1998 semi-final, which were the only two goals he ever scored in his 142 caps.
CB: Marcel Desailly
A Rolls Royce of a defender, Marcel Desailly could dictate the backline or midfield with his tough tackling and ball playing ability.
Desailly was reliable on and off the ball to let the players in front of him express their freedom. His partnership with Laurent Blanc was impenetrable, dominating in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs where he bullied the world's best strikers.
CB: Laurent Blanc
Desailly's perfect partner, Laurent Blanc brought unmatched elegance and ball-playing ability to the French backline.
He was the cerebral leader of the 1998 defense, famously scoring the first-ever Golden Goal in World Cup history against Paraguay in the Round of 16.
LB: Bixente Lizarazu
A tireless engine on the left flank. Bixente Lizarazu was ahead of his time, operating as a modern attacking full-back who was able to put a shift in defense.
Winning the Champions League and 6 Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich,he was an undisputed starter in the golden generation.
CDM: N'Golo Kante
Part of any great midfield 3 is the one who's willing to cover the yards and do the dirty work for the team. Ngolo Kanté’s 2018 World Cup campaign was a masterclass in ground coverage and ball recovery.
He essentially did the defensive work of two players, allowing France’s attacking superstars the absolute freedom to dismantle opposition teams.
CM: Michel Platini
One of the best goal scoring midfielders the game has ever seen, Michel Platini put France on the map. The king of the 1980s. Platini won three consecutive Ballons d'Or and captained France to Euro 1984 glory with a record nine goals in a single tournament.
His unmatched vision, free-kick mastery, and leadership established France as a true global superpower for the first time.
CM: Zinedine Zidane
The greatest French player of all time. Zinedine Zidane transcended football, becoming a cultural icon after his two goals in the 1998 World Cup final.
He was the undisputed maestro of the Euro 2000 win and carried an aging squad to the 2006 final. He could win a match from any spot in midfield with his unstoppable skill set.
RW: Kylian Mbappe
From young pretender to international legend, Kylian Mbappe has already broken countless records and he hasn't even turned 30 yet.
Mbappé burst onto the scene in 2018, becoming the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final. He followed it up scoring 22 goals in 22 matches at the World Cup (a tournament record). He still has tournaments to go to put himself higher on the France all time list.
LW: Thierry Henry
France’s all-time leading scorer for over a decade (51 goals). Thierry Henry was a devastating mix of pace, flair, and clinical finishing.
He was a crucial part of the 1998 and 2000 triumphs and remained the lethal focal point of the French attack throughout the early 2000s. And not to mention the best player in English football history to go with it.
ST: Just Fontaine
A name maybe not many people may have heard of, but when it comes to pulling that France shirt on Just Fontaines' goal scoring can't be questioned.
He scored a mind-boggling 13 goals in just six matches during the 1958 World Cup—a single-tournament record that will almost certainly never be broken. He averaged an absurd 1.42 goals per game across his international career.
